The ongoing tensions between Perpignan Mayor Louis Aliot and the renowned Visa pour l'Image photography festival have escalated into a controversial political maneuver. The National Rally (RN) party mayor has decided to organize his own exhibition focused on the October 7, 2023 massacres in Israel, marking a significant departure from the city's traditional relationship with the international photojournalism festival.
This latest development stems from a contentious decision made by Aliot just one year ago, when he refused to present the prestigious Visa d'Or award to Gaza-based photojournalist Loay Ayyoub. The mayor justified his refusal by citing what he described as "presumed ambiguity" regarding the photographer's stance toward Hamas, a decision that sparked widespread debate within the photography and journalism communities.
The deteriorating relationship between Aliot and the Visa pour l'Image festival represents more than just a local political dispute. The festival, which has been held annually in Perpignan for decades, is considered one of the world's most important photojournalism events, attracting international photographers, editors, and media professionals to the southern French city.
By creating his own alternative exhibition focusing specifically on the October 7 attacks, Aliot appears to be using both photography as a medium and the Jewish community's concerns as political tools. Critics argue that this approach instrumentalizes both art and sensitive community issues for political gain, raising questions about the appropriate role of local government in cultural and religious matters.
