“I will keep a close eye on the progress of Gers projects”: prefect Laurent Carrié on his way to the Elysée

It was during a ceremony in honor of the Gers recipients of the Order of Agricultural Merit that Laurent Carrié said goodbye to Gers this Friday, November 22 in Auch. As a prelude, the senior Toulouse official granted us an interview.

During this week of demonstrations, we saw you come into contact with angry farmers. What responses could they have been given?

On the trigger, the draft treaty with Mercosur, a consensus exists at the national political level and the President said that he would not sign as is. At the departmental level, we can only relay the opinion of residents on this subject. On the agricultural side, my priority has always been to ensure that the measures decided by the State are well implemented, in practice. I did not want the “local state” to be found wanting and the mobilization of services made it possible to be there. I am thinking of CAP installments, the reduction in property tax on undeveloped properties, compensation linked to illnesses – avian flu, MHE, etc. – or support for viticulture.

You leave after only 15 months of exercise in the Gers, but after having been qualified as “the best prefect of France of all time”…

(Laughs) I appreciate it, but it's more to be put down to Gascon enthusiasm! Above all, I remain modest: I do not forget that Claude Erignac was prefect here, in Gers (before being assassinated while stationed in Corsica on February 6, 1998, Editor's note). The main thing is to support people and businesses, to reach out to others. A way to fully understand a global problem is sometimes to look at a particular case, make a diagnosis and find a solution, which is not always what the person expected.

Hence your numerous field trips?

Yes, on the agricultural aspect as on other themes. I set myself the goal of going out every day and having this approach through individual cases, always asking myself: “Why isn't it working, how can I fix it?” It is a working method learned with a well-known Gersois, Jean Castex, whom I thank for his advice.

What will be your new mission starting next week?

I have the immense honor of joining the team of the President of the Republic as advisor in charge of the territories. I will deal with rurality but also city policy, local authorities and regional planning. The period is complicated, my last two experiences, in Gers and in Marseille (prefect delegate for equal opportunities of Bouches-du-Rhône, Editor's note), will be very useful to me. And I will obviously keep a close eye on the progress of the Gers projects.

What main success do you remember from your time in the Gers?

The progress of work on the N124, with a large-scale project meeting deadlines. I supported him more than I pushed him, but it is an issue that I followed very closely. The budget was met and the transfer of project management to the Department was done smoothly. I would also mention the Auch slaughterhouse which, for once, is a project that I took from A to Z, in conjunction with the structure, the breeders and the local authorities. This collective work resulted in the opening this week of the new multi-species slaughter line, which is also a source of pride.

What is your biggest regret?

I regret not having seen d'Artagnan's project progress more quickly. There was a great opportunity (the purchase of the Château de Lupiac, Editor's note) which could not materialize. But local players remain determined to carry it out and it is a real development project that the Gers needs. All that remains is to find the location. My successor* will be equally mobilized on this issue and the State will remain a partner.