This Monday, Nicolas Martin (PS), mayor of Mons, confirmed that he would take the oath the next day, thus assuming his role as deputy at least until next October, the month of the municipal elections. On the city side, he therefore announced his temporary withdrawal, thus waiting to see if voters would renew their confidence in him at the polls.
”Based on the principle that I will not combine the functions of mayor and deputy, I have chosen to use a slow period in the City (from mid-July to the municipal elections) to experience the essential period which will take place in the next few weeks in parliament”he explained, still insisting on the fact that this “leave” in the city would be “unpaid.”
“This leave will also allow me to lead a campaign worthy of the name, which I was unable to do during the regionals, due to my workload and the Ducasse”, he added again. A decision which was understood and welcomed by many residents of Mont but also criticized by others. Starting with Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of the Mons opposition.
For the latter, Nicolas Martin’s statements are false. “His words are surreal. To say that he is going to take unpaid leave is a lie because a mayor cannot waive his remuneration. This is simply impossible! Others have already tried before him but legally, this is not planned.”
The day after the regional elections, Nicolas Martin considered requesting an exemption to accumulate
And to add: “What a signal sent to the Montois! A few months before the next elections, he prefers to no longer worry about what is happening in his city. If tomorrow there are floods, a serious fire, major management events, it will not turn around. His electoral campaign therefore obviously interests him more than what his fellow citizens may experience.”
The Liberal highlights yet another element. “Nicolas Martin talks about taking leave from the city, which will allow him to campaign. I didn’t know that being a parliamentarian was synonymous with leave. Taking advantage of the position to campaign seems completely inappropriate to me because he will take advantage of the means and public structures to carry it out.”
For Georges-Louis Bouchez, Nicolas Martin’s situation is explained, in part, by the internal rules of the Socialist Party which does not authorize the accumulation of functions. “This gives rise to an unspeakable quibble. Today, we find ourselves with a mayor who circumvents the rules of his party by taking this temporary leave, announcing that he is giving up his remuneration when that is not possible.”
Mayoral candidate in Mons, Nicolas Martin will also be campaigning for the regional elections: “If a choice must be made, the city will have priority”
President of the MR, Georges-Louis Bouchez further specifies that being mayor of a large city, like Mons, this must be a full-time position. On the other hand, given their responsibilities, it would be normal for them to receive parliamentary remuneration. It would be a healthier system and it would encourage the true decumulation advocated by the PS.”A questioning is planned at the next Mons municipal council and with the Walloon government once it is installed.
“Georges-Louis forgot his law lessons”
For his part, Nicolas Martin refutes the allegations of his political opponent. “He has obviously forgotten his law lessons since the code of local democracy provides that a mayor or alderman who decides to take leave – which is not specific leave such as paternity leave for example – which requires his replacement does not does not receive treatment for the replacement period, apart from a case of illness”he specifies.Once again, he is stating things that are false, which is regrettable when his concerns must be elsewhere.”
The mayor also regrets “the personal attacks”, recalling that if he agreed to take the road to parliament, it was “precisely to defend the interests of the people of Montois”. “The MR has regularly announced its desire to cut aid granted to large cities, and therefore in particular to Mons, while the costs transferred to municipalities have been ever greater since the Michel government. It is precisely to oppose their policy, which would be disastrous on a social level and more generally for Mons, that I agreed to become a parliamentarian.”
Finally, the mayor believes that campaigning for the municipal elections is compatible with his new role. “I will fulfill all my duties but yes, I hope to be able to free up time to campaign, as Georges-Louis Bouchez will do despite his presidency of the MR, his function as federal deputy and the ongoing negotiations with a view to forming a government. If he does not question his ability to carry out everything at the same time, I find it regrettable to attack other elected officials on the issue, by trying, as all too often, to blacken them by being perpetually in the attack. ”
One thing is more certain than ever: a few months before the elections, tension risks increasing between the two men.
