French PM heckled over wildfire response as blazes continue across Europe

What the report says

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was booed during a visit on Monday to Le Porge in south-west France, the area most affected by recent wildfires, as criticism grew over the government’s response. According to BBC World News, about 200 residents gathered at the town hall in the town, where 183 homes were destroyed, and some accused officials of failing to engage with people who lost property. Lecornu’s office said it had “nothing to hide” about the handling of the fires.

The prime minister announced €12m in aid for the Gironde and Landes regions, with most of the money earmarked for Gironde. He also said rebuilding permits for replacement homes would be issued within a month, or sooner, and described the support as part of a recovery effort for local authorities. The BBC reported that residents are seeking answers about how the fires were managed and plan to pursue complaints.

The article also placed the French unrest within a wider European wildfire crisis. Fires were still active in Belgium, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Croatia, with evacuations, injuries and deaths reported in several places. EU countries were sending aircraft, helicopters, firefighters and other resources to support affected areas. As background, summer wildfire seasons have increasingly strained emergency services across southern and western Europe, especially during periods of intense heat and dry conditions.