The art of pulling edges…
It was not a Rochelais who won the Vendée Globe this year. But La Rochelle is not entirely foreign to the exploit of Charlie Dalin on his sailboat “Macif”, it seems! Jean-François Fountaine, the mayor, in fact recalled Tuesday evening, during the Agglo's wishes to economic players, that the Apivia mutual, which is part of the insurance group, comes from the Société Mutuel des arts and crafts of… La Rochelle. La Rochelle has therefore won a little with Charlie Dalin… Sailors who do not have the wind at their backs to go straight towards their objective must know how to tack. In politics, it's the same.
…and the art of grabbing poles
Could the projects for 2026 of La Rochelle deputy Pascal Daunit, highlighted last week, slip through the cracks of the municipal council on January 13? The majority undoubtedly dreamed it. But no: “We hope that the multitude of candidates to succeed the Mayor from the majority will neither be the cause of a deterioration of exchanges within the municipal council, nor of a deterioration in the effectiveness of the public policies carried out this year,” declared ecologist Océane Mariel, when expressing her wishes. The perch was so beautiful.
The prefect's eye
During press conferences, it is not uncommon for elected officials or partners of the day to pose in front of the official display, generally kakemonos, these stretched vertical canvases, held by a light aluminum structure. These communication supports have been everywhere for several years, and on Thursday January 16, there were three of them during the signing of a partnership agreement against sexual and gender-based violence at the University of La Rochelle. Their arrangement must not have satisfied Brice Blondel, prefect of Charente-Maritime, because he took the liberty of reorganizing everything himself. Finally, the prefect's kakemono found itself in the center, surrounded by that of the Crous and that of the University of La Rochelle. A trifecta in good order, that of the State.
A “silly” rule
The Royan municipal council voted on Thursday January 16 on a deliberation concerning the Association for the defense of the church of Royan (Ader). No cow, the elected opposition Thomas Lafarie did not let the mayor, Patrick Marengo, make the blunder of having said deliberation voted on without asking: “Um, there is no member of this association around this table ? » Oops, it turns out that the Royan council has within it… the own president of Ader, Marie-Pierre Quentin, incidentally departmental councilor for ten years, who obviously did not have in mind the rule which requires that An elected official directly concerned by a deliberation must not only not take part in the vote, but also leave the room. “This rule is stupid,” whispered the person concerned, dragging her feet towards the landing. Her former mayor and former deputy husband Didier Quentin said the same thing about the law on the illegal taking of interests, in 2015, pinched for having transformed family land from a classified wooded area to a buildable one. The laws, frankly…
Date for Loti
During his ceremony of wishes to the agents, this Tuesday, January 14, the mayor of Rochefort and president of the Agglo Rochefort Océan, Hervé Blanché, insisted on the flagship event which will mark 2025: the reopening of Pierre Loti's house ( born Julien Viaud), closed since 2012. The elected official found a slogan inviting “this dear Minister of Culture” to the inauguration on May 21: “'Dati pour Loti', that sounds great! » Why not while we’re at it, “Darmanin for Julien” and “Retailleau for Viaud”. That would bring a lot of people to Rochefort.
-Under pressure
The ferry from the island of Aix is causing a stir. Its operation was not immediately entrusted to Keolis by the Department from 1is January, that users launched a petition on January 5, then formed an association on the 15th. Objects of discord: the new prices, compulsory reservation and only one ferry in the summer compared to two before, during the time of Transdev. This bronca bore fruit at least on prices since on January 16, a card of 10 or 20 trips was launched, bringing prices down. However, at a press conference on January 16, neither the Department nor Keolis admitted that they had backpedaled under pressure, as if it were shame, preferring to say that they were “listening and talking” . Why so many precautions?
Serial video
Jean-Philippe Machon, former mayor of Saintes, defeated in 2020 by Bruno Drapron, his former deputy, nourishes a spirit of revenge which he has shared in video on his Facebook page for several weeks. The municipal elections are in sight, obviously. If nothing says that he will lead a list, Jean-Philippe Machon has turned into a serial videographer to take down his best enemy but also his wife, Véronique Abelin-Drapron, municipal elected official and departmental councilor.
All the salt of wishes
What brings a thousand people to Bois-Plage, every year, for the wish ceremony of the intercommunality of the island of Ré in Les Rallais? The chords of the children at music school? The succession of speeches with a willingly amused tone? President Quillet gave the answer this Thursday, it is the interest that the population has in the island and its projects… The “salt” of the wishes would therefore be citizen motivation. Well done. So, the little gift given to each person present (chocolates last year, a small box of fleur de sel this year, etc.) at the end of the ceremony, before the petits fours, really has nothing to do with it? It’s useful for building “customer” loyalty, perhaps, all the same…
