RN Mayor of Castres Cancels Play About Illegal Immigrants
A National Rally mayor in Castres, France, removed a play about an Eritrean illegal migrant from city programming, defending the decision as legitimate political oversight of taxpayer-funded culture.
The controversy centers on the decision by Mayor Florian Azéma to withdraw “Passeport,” a play by Alexis Michalik, which had been tentatively scheduled for February 2027, according to Valeurs Actuelles. The work tells the story of a young Eritrean illegal immigrant left for dead in the Calais migrant camp.
Azéma has categorically rejected claims that his decision represents an attack on artistic freedom. Speaking to La Dépêche, the National Rally mayor explained that the theme of the play did not align with what he had proposed during his election campaign.
Municipal officials clarified that no formal contract had been signed between the city and Michalik for the performance. Only a preliminary agreement regarding a potential date had been discussed with the previous municipal administration.
A Political Decision Openly Defended
The National Rally mayor makes no apologies for exercising political discretion over publicly funded cultural programming. Azéma told Ici Occitanie that following a change in municipal majority, elected officials have both the role and the authority to shape cultural offerings.
He advocates prioritizing local artists, educational institutions, and community associations in the city’s cultural schedule. The mayor defended the principle that elected representatives should have control over projects financed by local taxpayers, stating that this oversight is a legitimate function of municipal governance.
While Azéma says he harbors no personal animosity toward Michalik and even praised his earlier work “Edmond,” he does not conceal his opposition to the subject matter of “Passeport.” On migrants, he stated plainly, one must call things what they are: they are illegal aliens.
The Play and Its Political Message
“Passeport” follows Issa, a young Eritrean left for dead in the Calais jungle. Surviving his injuries but suffering from amnesia, the protagonist attempts to reconstruct his identity using only his passport as a link to his past.
The narrative presents a perspective on illegal immigration sharply at odds with the mayor’s position on border enforcement and the rule of law.
Michalik Cries Censorship
The playwright broke his silence with an Instagram post lamenting that the cancellation came at the behest of the city’s new National Rally officials. Michalik claimed the performance had been programmed, validated, and integrated into the cultural season before the political transition.
The director expressed broader concerns about implications for the cultural sector, asserting that creative freedom and the independence of cultural programming should transcend political divisions. He called for collective vigilance against attempts to transform culture into a tool for ideological selection.
Municipal Response to Outrage
The Castres city government responded forcefully to the controversy in an official statement. Officials suggested that certain elements of the highly politicized pseudo-cultural establishment were too eager to cry censorship against a municipality governed by elected officials they find disagreeable, when the city had merely exercised its legitimate prerogatives.
The statement pointedly observed that left-wing municipal governments have hardly distinguished themselves by promoting so-called right-wing cultural productions, highlighting what conservatives view as double standards in debates over cultural programming and political influence.
The incident reflects ongoing tensions in France between National Rally municipal governments and cultural institutions that have historically aligned with progressive political sensibilities.
With information from Valeurs Actuelles
