The month of January rhymes with greeting ceremonies. Several mayors and community presidents had expressed, as early as November, their desire to eliminate this traditional meeting given the financial efforts requested by the Barnier government.
And in Haute-Loire, how is this going?
A time of education and proximity
As everywhere in France, following the government developments of recent weeks as well as the absence of a finance law, the atmosphere is not festive. Complicated for a chief magistrate to announce projects when the budgets have not yet been finalized, when we do not know what will happen tomorrow.
At the same time, in departments like Haute-Loire, it seems difficult to ignore the demonstration. Bernard Souvignet, president of the association of French mayors in the department and mayor of Raucoules, recognizes this.
“The wishes remain a moment awaited by the population. The proof, in my town, this weekend, there were 231 people. For a town with just over 950 inhabitants, this is not nothing. »
How does he explain this enthusiasm? “Wishes are the moment when municipal teams can put themselves forward, it’s not that often. In addition, it is also an opportunity to take stock of what has been done and to discuss what we are going to do. We can also do education. For example, this year, I explained why the municipality was losing sanitation skills. People came to me at the end for further explanations. I couldn't have done it at any other time. »
Above all “symbolic”
This year is doubly special: there is the question of the budget, but it is also a pre-election year. “Next year, it may be even more complicated to make wishes. Which nevertheless allows for a closeness that one cannot have at any other time. »
If in his capacity as mayor, Bernard Souvignet would not put this demonstration on hold, “this is not where we are going to make savings in any case”, he understands very well the communities which have decided to make the impasse.
“The departmental council will not hold a greeting ceremony. This decision was taken when the Barnier government wanted to make deep cuts in community budgets. They didn't want to come back disappointed, I understand them. It is certainly symbolic but it also leaves an impression. »
The Department will not be the only community not to organize greeting ceremonies. The Puy urban community also made this choice. There are of course budgetary reasons, but not only that. “The death of Michel Joubert also means that there will be no one in the urban community,” explains the Public Establishment for Intercommunal Cooperation.
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