French PM Sebastien Lecornu jeered in fire-hit Gironde

Dozens of residents jeered French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Monday as he visited Le Porge in the southwestern Gironde region, where wildfires destroyed 183 homes earlier this summer.

About 200 people dressed in black gathered outside the town hall, whistling and shouting anti-government slogans as Lecornu's car arrived for a meeting with Mayor Martial Zaninetti.

Some residents criticised the prime minister for not meeting them. Lecornu's office said he had spoken with affected residents and farmers.

“We have absolutely nothing to hide regarding how fire protection operations have been conducted over the past few weeks,” Lecornu said later as he met local officials in nearby Merignac.

Some residents in the region allege authorities gave priority to fighting fires in the upscale Cap-Ferret peninsula, where many affluent Parisians take holidays, over protecting local homes. Ludivine Daurignac, organiser of a group of affected residents, said the group planned to file complaints and seek “truth, transparency, and justice”.

The fire burned through 42,000 hectares before being brought under control on August 1. It was the largest wildfire in France by surface area since 1949, came within 15 kilometres of the Bordeaux metropolitan area and forced the evacuation of more than 220,000 residents and tourists.