Pablo Longoria showed that he wanted to be a president involved in Marseille life, for good times and bad. The Spaniard surprised many observers by appearing on Saturday at the heart of the big march organized in Marseille against drug traffickers, a few days after the assassination of Mehdi Kessaci, brother of anti-drug activist Amine Kessaci.
A rare presence for a Ligue 1 manager, but which comes at a time when the city is shaken by collective emotion of exceptional intensity. The president of OM, recognizable among the dense crowd, was photographed alongside many anonymous people who came to denounce the deadly grip of drug banditry and support the bereaved family.
A pivotal moment in Marseille
The Mehdi Kessaci affair caused a real shock in Marseille. The 26-year-old young man was shot dead during an attack linked to drug trafficking networks, violence which has now become almost daily in certain neighborhoods of the city. His brother, Amine Kessaci, a committed figure in the fight against drug dealers, called for a massive rally to “no longer be silent”. The silence imposed during part of the march and the participation of thousands of people illustrated the exasperation of a population at the end of its rope.
If Pablo Longoria did not speak, his symbolic participation was welcomed by certain supporters and residents, who see it as a strong gesture from a major player in Marseille life. In a context where OM asserts its local roots and its social role, this appearance marks clear support for the affected families and for citizen mobilization against the spiral of violence which is plaguing Marseille.
