Paul Mourier, prefect of Côte-d'Or: “drug trafficking, a cancer that is spreading throughout the territory”

France Blue Burgundy. Paul Mourier, you were prefect of Lozère, Cantal, Var. Are you arriving in Burgundy on familiar ground or not?

Who doesn’t know the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region? I arrive with a lot of humility because even if I know Burgundy a little, I have to discover it. I have to meet all the leaders, political of course, from the world as well as the economy. I attach a lot of importance to it. We must listen to truly understand what are the characteristics, the specificities of this great region, and then of course, take immediate action and provide answers to those who expect answers from the state.

One of the big issues in recent years is the fight against drug trafficking, the violence linked to this trafficking, with very serious episodes last spring, the XXL net operation set up here in Dijon. Your predecessor made it a priority. Is this your case too?

First, let's remember that drug use is a real public health and mental health issue. It was my predecessor's priority. This is today the priority of the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau.

Who blames consumers for having blood on their hands…

He said it and I'm sorry to point it out, but rightly so, because it's the reality. The phenomena, I would say, that we are witnessing throughout the country are absolutely unacceptable.

Are you targeting consumers as a priority?

As a priority, we must target both the traffickers, the drug traffickers and the consumers, because unfortunately it is a market, so we must both have determined action towards the drug traffickers who effectively ensure that they capture a part of the territory. And obviously, I would say, consumers. Indeed, it has increased enormously in recent months in the Bourgogne Franche-Comté region, I would say, and we must introduce fixed tort fines.

We know the networks, sometimes even those who are at the head of them. What is missing to complete these investigations?

These investigations are obviously a matter of justice, and they take time. We must also emphasize in a very clear way, I would say, the fight, I would say, against drug traffickers who are today, as you indicated, spread across the entire territory, in the world urban, very important so-called deal places. But there is not a small town, I would say, in our country and in the region that is spared from drug trafficking. It is a real cancer, I would say, which is spreading throughout the national territory.

Beyond drug trafficking, for example, we saw several attacks this weekend outside nightclubs, in the heart of the city in Dijon. What will be your action in relation to this phenomenon?

There are ongoing investigations into these facts. There are other events which are of course happening in the regional territory. Yes, we are witnessing, I would say, a sort of decay of society. That is to say that for the slightest act, there is violence. And the question that arises, the question may be of drug trafficking, but quite simply of public security, I would say. We need to find the ability to live together and develop a project for the territory together.

Are administrative closures, as decided by your predecessor for example, an option?

I will not hesitate to do so if necessary. But the fact to which you refer is clearly not linked, at this stage, to this or that establishment.

The other burning issue for you, and for the government too, is the anger of the peasants which is rising again. Have you met local representatives of the FDSEA, young farmers?

I obviously met a certain number of regional and departmental managers. I see it again this evening. I'll see about it next week.

Are you worried?

I'm not worried. Above all, I am mobilized. We are facing economic problems. There is indeed some European aid that has fallen behind schedule. I have already spoken several times with the president of the regional council so that we can find the best solutions as quickly as possible to actually make up for this delay.

Particularly for certain professions, breeders?

Today, all agricultural wine sectors in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region are affected, either for economic reasons, aid delays and weather issues in particular. I think of the great culture that. There was so much water at the start of the season that they had difficulties. But perhaps, and even certainly one of the sectors here in Burgundy Franche-Comté. But on a national level, I will say who is in difficulty. It is the sector, I would actually say breeding, whatever the breeding, with perhaps particular attention paid to the suckling cattle sector. And so I will obviously meet all those responsible to actually see what short-term and long-term solutions can be provided to support all the sectors, but in particular these.