Is this a way of showing that it does not replace it? Emeric Lavitola swapped the higher, more comfortable armchair of the mayor for a simple municipal councilor’s seat, in the center of the council room. But it is him, the first deputy, who is leading the debates this Wednesday, December 18 in the evening at the Périgueux municipal council, the first since the “recess” of Delphine Labail. He wanted to silence the “rumors” on the absence of the city’s mayor.
“Not everything that is said is the truth”assures Emeric Lavitola, in front of an audience that we have rarely seen so numerous for a municipal council. The first deputy denounces the “approximations” and the “media stunts” of the right-wing opposition. It mainly targets Michel Cadetwhich happened declared candidate for mayor the day after the announcement of the mayor’s withdrawal: “The indelible mark of an unworthy candidate”jette Emeric Lavitola.
On the audit, there will be “nothing under the carpet”
Faced with him, the opponent persists: “Our city is sullied by your turpitude and your lies”assure Michel Cadet, speaking of a “internal putsch” within the majority to explain the departure of Delphine Labail. “It was she who gave me a mandate for this municipal council despite her state of health”replied Emeric Lavitola. “I hope this will silence the rumors of a putsch. The story is much simpler than that, and we must stop playing politics on rumors.”
The right is convinced that it is necessary to find in a audit of town hall staff, and in the city’s financesthe real reasons for Madam Mayor’s withdrawal. “Through the violence of management, many employees have found themselves in great suffering over the last four years”affirms Michel Cadet, listing the “resignations, transfers, burn-out, exhaustion” and others “very long work stoppages”. He demands “the content of the audit” emphasizing the fact that “Madam Mayor was not the only one responsible: you were there, her close guard, deaf to all the warnings of the opposition”.
The stadium will be inaugurated for the last CAP match
“There will be nothing under the carpet”answers Emeric Lavitola. He assures that this “organizational diagnosis” is not “finalized” and that it will be presented on January 13 to the unions, then to the agents, then to the municipal council: “Nothing to hide. Don’t worry, you’ll have everything”. And when the former right-wing mayor Antoine Audi points out absenteeism rate for medical reasons which increased from 5.96% in 2018 under his mandate, to 7.42% in 2022 under Delphine Labail, the first deputy responds that this rate “progress in all communities” and that it is linked to an aging age curve among town hall officials.
The majority also responds to the cost of the Sports and Leisure Park, which the opposition says has soared from 8 to 18 million euros. The total will amount to 17.8 million euros, including tax, but the city will only finance 7.16 million euros from its own funds thanks to subsidies: “The companies are paid, the invoices too”says Anne Marchand, the finance assistant. Emeric Lavitola drives the point home: he announces that the rugby stadium will be inaugurated on April 26for the last match of the CAP season against Rouen.
