“The actors of the territory must show themselves united”: the message from President Sébastien Frey on the occasion of the wishes of the Hérault Méditerranée agglomeration

It will have escaped no one's notice that the financial situation of the State, with a debt of 3,300 billion euros to be reduced as quickly as possible, coupled with political instability, is plunging the country into total uncertainty.

Advocacy for local communities

We can care less, like many, and laugh about it too, amused by the grand puppet offered by our so-called thinking heads, but we must keep in mind that all this has an impact at the local level. And not least.

This is the meaning of the message delivered by the president of the Hérault Méditerranée agglomeration Sébastien Frey, Thursday January 16 in Bessan, on the occasion of a greeting ceremony where he addressed “to local stakeholders.” As he did last week in Agde, Sébastien Frey recalled that “the regions, the departments, are the most affected by the measures mentioned (but not yet voted) by the State”namely that local and territorial authorities will have to cash in and participate in reducing the national debt. For the Hérault Méditerranée agglomeration alone, a little more than one million euros has been provisioned for this purpose in the 2025 budget.

As the president pointed out, these same communities have not subscribed “only 7.5% of the borrowings which weigh on the national debt, while these same 7.5% were used to finance 58% of public investment. I am convinced, deep within me, that the 35 000 French municipalities grouped within intermunicipalities are today the basis which should enable public authorities to act.”

Less aid yes, but more latitude too

Also, Sébastien Frey expressed several wishes. “First of all, that the actors of the territory, the elected officials, be united. The more serious the situation at the national level, the greater the responsibility of the territorial actors. We must remain determined and ambitious for the territory.”

To the sub-prefect of Béziers Jacques Lucbereilh, he explained that he had noted the fact that the State's actions would be reduced in the years to come: “We understand that we will not get as much help as in the past.” Facing senator Jean-Pierre Grand and the deputy for the 7th constituency Aurélien Lopez-Liguori, Frey added: “you who make the laws, when there is less public money, what we are asking for is fewer standards. We must let elected officials work, in compliance with the regulations. We know what our fellow citizens are up to need.”