RATP CEO Jean Castex, whose term was due to end on July 22, will temporarily retain his position beyond that date and therefore during the Olympic Games, the government decided on Wednesday.
Appointed head of the RATP in November 2022, the former Prime Minister will be “responsible for the interim role of Chairman and CEO” of the transport authority from July 23, indicates a decree signed by the Ministers of the Economy Bruno Le Maire and of the Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu, which does not mention an end date for this interim.
Jean Castex had been proposed on June 3 by Emmanuel Macron for a second term. But his nomination must be confirmed by the competent committees of the National Assembly and the Senate.
However, the dissolution of the National Assembly, which will most likely result in the presidential camp being left in a minority following the early elections on July 7, has suspended this procedure and makes the nomination uncertain.
During the inauguration of the extension of line 11 on June 13, Jean Castex acknowledged that it was “very unlikely” that the new assembly would have time to hear him before July 22.
The main union among metro drivers, FO-RATP, called in mid-June for Jean Castex to be replaced in his post, in the hope of ensuring stability at the head of the public transport group.
“After several years of drought in both social dialogue and recognition of our professions, we have succeeded with the current CEO in restoring responsible social dialogue for the good of employees and the company,” wrote FO.
On the SNCF side, the government announced at the beginning of May that CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou would continue his mission during the summer “in order to guarantee the proper organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games”, but that he would not be reappointed for a second term.
After the competition, the President of the new National Assembly and the President of the Senate will be notified by the President of the Republic of the name of the intended successor to Mr. Jean-Pierre Farandou, who has chaired the group since 2019, according to the government.
As for ADP (Aéroports de Paris), its president Augustin de Romanet will also be kept in his functions until the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris “in order to guarantee (their) good organization”, but will not be renewed beyond that, Matignon announced in March.
