The words are harsh, the anger barely restrained. The Congress of Regions of France has just ended, Thursday, September 30 in Montpellier. The congressmen, in the first row of which the president of the association, Carole Delga, greeted with timid applause of pure politeness the closing speech of the Prime Minister, Jean Castex. The president of the Occitanie region accompanies the head of government and the Minister of Territorial Cohesion, Jacqueline Gourault directly to their cars, without seeking to prolong the exchange, then brings together the presidents of the regions present – more than half did not agree. jump to this meeting – to agree on a common position before addressing the press.
“We were very shocked by this speech, the tone used and the analysis of the situation in France by the Prime Minister, attack Mme Delga, surrounded by her colleagues. We were in a constructive spirit. It is necessary to initiate a new stage of a true partnership with the State. We note that there is no real desire to work with the regions. All the regions represent 66 million inhabitants and we have as much legitimacy as the ministers. ” ” Disappointment “, “Humiliation”, “We do not share the same vision of the reality of the country”… Terms which seemed to have no longer been used since the appointment of Mr. Castex at the head of the government. Fifteen days earlier, after being received at Matignon by the Prime Minister, the regional presidents welcomed the“Positive atmosphere” who had presided over their exchanges.
What could have happened to arrive at such a sticking point, when the State and the regions had concluded in September 2020 a partnership agreement to face the crisis and initiate a recovery plan? ? Likewise, they are called upon to mobilize together on the major projects of investment in skills and in the sectors of the future, in particular within the framework of the new framework. “Building the France of 2030”. So many files that give rise to multiple joint consultation and development meetings, without any door slamming.
“Bad manner of government”
The pretext for discord is nestled in the depths of financial transfers from the State to local authorities provided for in the finance bill (PLF) for 2022. Experts from the Regions of France have spotted a budget line that would cut off the allocations regions of 50 million euros. The very evening of the presentation of the PLF in the Council of Ministers, the association published a rather uninviting press release criticizing the “Bad government manner”. And, on the eve of the association’s congress, Mr.me Delga, in an interview with Figaro, no longer reported 50 million but “177 million euros in total” reduction in allocations for the regions.
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