Laurent Wauquiez imitates Donald Trump and announces the elimination of regional subsidies for Lyon-2 University

In the competition to best imitate Donald Trump, Laurent Wauquiez has just scored a new point against his rival for the LR presidency, Bruno Retailleau. The former president of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region announced, this Wednesday, May 7, on CNews-Europe 1, the immediate suspension of all regional aid to Lyon-2 University until further notice. He also called for an " independent inspection mission" within the institution, which he accuses of "Islamo-leftist drift."

"The Donald Trump of Wish," quips Manuel Bompard, a rebellious MP, in a tweet posted on the social network X this morning in reference to the famous Chinese counterfeiting platform. Indeed, the suspension is reminiscent of one of Donald Trump 's latest whims, which saw him cut more than $2 billion in federal grants to Harvard University . The American president accused the institution, among other things, of having allowed anti-Semitic remarks to spread on campus during the pro-Palestinian protests in spring 2024.

Although financial aid from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region represents only a small part of Lyon-2's budget, the joint decision of Fabrice Pannekoucke, the new regional president, and his now very influential "special advisor," Laurent Wauquiez, crystallizes the tensions that have been rocking the university for several weeks.

On April 1st, activists entered a class given by Fabrice Balanche, a geography teacher and LR municipal councilor, to denounce his "racist" and "Zionist" positions. He was forced to interrupt his class. Laurent Wauquiez returned to this incident on Europe 1 this Wednesday, expressing his sympathy to his "friend" and the "fight he is leading."

The LR MP also welcomed the recent announcement of the resignation of the university's vice-president, Willy Beauvallet-Haddad, who denounced a "public smear campaign (...) due to personal positions taken regarding the situation in Palestine and Lebanon."

Marie-Charlotte Garin, Green Party MP, responded to Laurent Wauquiez's speech on X: "He's invented the 'academic opinion crime'. Will teachers and students have to prove their political alignment to keep the lights on? " she asks. She adds, scathingly: "On the other hand, rest assured, public funds remain available for lavish dinners, friends from Puy-en-Velay, and Trump-style PR stunts. No education, yes, introspection ."