French PM booed by residents in wildfire-hit Gironde as anger grows over response

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was booed by residents during a visit to Le Porge on Monday, as anger grows over the response to devastating wildfires in the Gironde region.

Lecornu travelled to the area to meet local officials and discuss reconstruction following last month's massive wildfire.

Footage published by BFMTV showed residents booing the prime minister as he arrived as some criticised him for leaving without speaking freely with locals.

“It would have been the least he could do” to meet residents, 65-year-old Tony Veiga told AFP, adding: “It really amounts to treating us as if we don’t matter.”

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 during talks with officials in nearby Merignac.

AFP reported anger among residents who allege authorities prioritised protecting the affluent Cap-Ferret peninsula over local homes. Lecornu rejected claims of preferential treatment.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has sent additional firefighting support to Belgium and Spain through its civil protection mechanism.

Swedish aircraft and helicopters from several European countries were deployed to Belgium, while 104 French firefighters and 36 vehicles joined efforts to tackle fires in Spain.