Gilles Bourdouleix, the mayor of Cholet, responds with anger to Michelin’s announcement of plans to close its local tire factory by 2026, impacting 1,254 employees. He criticizes the company’s leadership for allowing the factory’s decline while maintaining strong financial performance and moving production abroad. Bourdouleix calls for employee strikes and offers support for those affected, highlighting the emotional toll on families. The economic outlook in Cholet is relatively stable, with low unemployment and local businesses seeking hires, yet Bourdouleix emphasizes the human cost of the closures and questions the lack of government action.