“The next yellow vests will be the tricolor scarves”: at the congress of mayors of France, the anger of local elected officials

“Don’t touch our communities, they must live”calls out a voice to 106^e congress of mayors above the buzz of the crowd. Coming from all over France from November 19 to 21, city councilors and elected officials adjust tricolor scarves painted black around their shoulders. A simple gesture to express their anger at the reductions in state payments.

“If we continue to be despised like this, the next yellow vests will be the tricolor scarves that we cover today with black”quips David Lisnard on this opening day. For the president of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF) and councilor of the Republicans of Cannes, the objective is to straighten out the public accounts. “If we continue to be despised, it will be the end of the state and the nation”he continues without mentioning his political family at the head of the government which is partly responsible for the situation of the municipalities.

“Our budgets are voted to be balanced”

“This black represents sadness at the treatment of local elected officials. But it is also an image of the revolt that drives us so that we can regain our capacity to move forward in the service of France as a whole and each of our territories”adds André Laignel, deputy vice-president of the AMF and socialist mayor of Issoudun (36), at the microphone of Public Senate.

Michel Barnier's government plans savings of 5 billion euros for communities. However, these latter “are not responsible for the state deficit”says Anne Hidalgo. The socialist mayor of Paris insisted on going to the congress of mayors to speak in the auditorium: “It’s not fair that old and new ministers come on television to tell liesshe continues, microphone in hand. Our budgets are voted to be balanced. The reduction in room for maneuver results from measures imposed by the State. »

Anger is brewing throughout Congress. “When we look more closely, almost 11 billion savings will impact our public services and our populations. The communities are placed under supervision by the State and no longer have any financial autonomy”regrets Denis Öztorun, PCF mayor of Bonneuil-sur-Marne (94).

An asphyxiation of local authorities which does not date from yesterday. “Every mayor remembers the professional tax abolished by Nicolas Sarkozy or the elimination of the global operating grant (DGF) by François Hollande advised by Macron”lists the communist who sees no change from year to year.

“It doesn’t matter what our political colors are”

For her PCF colleague from Mitry-Mory (77), Charlotte Blandiot-Faride, successive governments are directly attacking the population by giving them no means to prosper. “Last summer, in my town, we were promised to recruit more AESH for disabled children. Forced to note that since the start of the school year this is still not the case. These are burdens that fall on usbreathes the one who is elected to the executive board of the AMF. But we cannot leave a child alone in the canteen when he must be accompanied, it is inconceivable. So in the meantime, other people must take on the role of AESH. But that's not their job. Our cities need resources. » Municipalities are tinkering to compensate for current and future budgetary restrictions.

In these times of crisis, wearing the black scarf is a “symbol of union, regardless of our political colors”underlines Charlotte Blandiot-Faride. Because in France, it is rare for a mayor to agree to see his finances attacked. Resisting is a temporary solution to avoid the death of communities. Each city must be able to maintain its capacity for action.