Student accommodation requisitioned for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: a contested decision
The decision to requisition certain student accommodation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has sparked strong reactions. Students, student organizations and politicians denounce the government’s contempt and demand better compensation for the students concerned.
In an interview with Le Parisien, the Minister of Higher Education, Sylvie Retailleau, announced that students whose Crous accommodation would be requisitioned would receive compensation of only 100 euros and two places to attend Olympic events. This measure was immediately criticized for its lack of consideration for students.
Julien Bayou, an environmentalist deputy from Paris, described this decision as “100 bullets and a Mars, literally”. He is joined by many other MPs and student organizations who denounce the government’s contempt for students. Fatiha Keloua Hachi, MP for Seine-Saint-Denis, even declared: “Enough is enough, the students have had enough of your contempt.”
The courts also ruled on this case. The Paris administrative court suspended in summary proceedings the Crous’s decision to limit occupancy leases for student accommodation. This legal procedure was initiated by the Solidaires union. The court emphasized that this decision by the Crous favored the interests of participants in the Olympic Games to the detriment of students. The Cnous, which manages the Crous network, reacted by ensuring that no student would be deprived of accommodation during the Olympic Games.
Faced with the controversy, the Minister of Higher Education, Sylvie Retailleau, justified the requisition of housing by emphasizing that many Crous housing units remain unoccupied during the summer. She specifies that of the 6,000 accommodations available, only 3,200 will be used, while 2,200 students will have to be relocated.
This measure nevertheless arouses concern and anxiety among students, who are already struggling to make ends meet. Maelle Nizan, president of the Federation of General Student Associations (Fage), deplores the fact that students do not know where they will be accommodated this summer and describes this government decision as disconnected from the reality they are experiencing.
In conclusion, the decision to requisition certain student accommodation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is facing a wave of protest. Students, student organizations and politicians are demanding better compensation for the students concerned and denouncing the government’s contempt. It now remains to be seen whether more satisfactory measures will be taken to ensure the well-being of students during this period.