While the Public Interest Group (GIP) of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of France is in liquidation, the Sud Sainte Baume agglomeration community denounces pressures and an inequitable distribution of debts. She claims to have only a tenth of the more than 750,000 euros that are claimed to her today.
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The case is eminently technical and looks like a huge bag of knots.
In this complex affair, a small Var community is trying to challenge a decision that it considers unfair. “I defend the agglomeration. It is not a personal affair”said Jean-Paul Joseph, president of the community of SUD Agglomeration Sainte Baume, in France 3 Côte d’Azur.
While the GIP is in liquidation, management under the chairmanship of Christian Estrosi, however, hovers in the background: surveys are underway.
This Monday, May 5, the president of the Community of Agglomeration Sud Sainte Baume summoned the press to denounce a situation which he judges “scandalous” and symptomatic of a “Failive system”.
In question: the distribution of the debt left by the GIP Grand Prix de France of Formula 1, dissolved since March 2024.
Created in 2017 to organize the return of the Grand Prix to Le Castellet (Var), the GIP brought together local authorities from the South Region, including the Metropolis of Toulon, the Var and Bouches-du-Rhône departments, the PACA region, but also the small community of South South Baume (Sanary, Bandol).
When the structure is stopped, the debt amounts to around 34.5 million euros, more than 12 million of which remain to be reimbursed: it is from there that things are bodied.
We don’t want to be the stuffing turkeys.
Jean-Paul Joseph, President of the South Agglomeration Community Sainte BaumeDuring a press conference
The community ensures that its participation should be around 72,000 euros.
-However, the sum required is ten times higher: it amounts to more than 750,000 euros.
This decision would have been made during a board of directors of the GIP in November 2024, which Jean-Paul Joseph judges legally not valid.
“As part of the liquidation, the board of directors cannot decide anythinghe said during his press briefing. It can only offer to the General Assembly. “
The president of Sud Sainte Baume recalls that his community has never refused to contribute, but only wishes to pay his share.
During his press conference, Jean-Paul Joseph described tense exchanges, in particular with the liquidator of the GIP and representatives of the Var department, in particular during a videoconferencing where he would have been advised to him “Very strongly” to return to his position, on the grounds that “The press has already announced that the situation was released”.
The president of agglomeration thus denounces a climate of pressure.
These are thug methods.
Jean-Paul Joseph, President of the South Agglomeration Community Sainte BaumeDuring a press conference
The President of Region Renaud Muselier, present at the last board of directors on April 28, would even have said “stunned” by the declaration of the mayor of Bandol to contest the payment of the 750,000 euros requested.
By caution, he refuses to express themselves on the role played by Christian Estrosi, president of the GIP until his dissolution. “An investigation and a judicial investigation are underway. I cannot comment on anything”he told France 3 Côte d’Azur after this press conference.
The Court of Auditors is currently investigating the management of the ex-GIP, chaired by Christian Estrosi.
Since 2023, an investigation by the Marseille prosecution has been targeting the structure for suspicions of favoritism and embezzlement of public funds. Hotel notes, trips abroad, luxurious expenses … So many elements that fuel suspicions on management in the Estrosi era.
Several anomalies were also mentioned by our colleagues from Mediapart, including a study at 550,000 dollars for a hypothetical Grand Prix in Nice, potentially ordered without consultation with the GIP Council.
Jean-Paul Joseph also confides having seized the public prosecutor of Toulon, dated September 18, 2023, and does not exclude being confirmed if irregularities are confirmed.
