As soon as the appointment of François Bayrou as Prime Minister was announced, the mayor of Châteauroux, Gil Avérous, made it known that he was ready to continue his mission within the government. “If the new prime minister thinks I can contribute to the government, I would stay”he confided to The New Republic, on December 13, 2024. He invoked the “need for stability” of his ministry which compiled Sport, Youth and Community Life. And was already planning towards the « 2030 Alps Games, the legacy law of the Olympic Games, the youth plan, the public service delegation of the Stade de France, the sports federations in full governance renewal, etc. »
Departure after 91 days in office
Ultimately, the essential trade-offs with which the new prime minister had to deal did not work out in his favor. After 91 days in office since taking office on September 23, 2024, the mayor of Châteauroux hands over his ministry to Marie Barsacq, executive director “impact and legacy” at the Organizing Committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This announcement was made official this Monday, December 23, shortly after 6:30 p.m., by Alexis Kohler, secretary general of the Élysée.
Gil Avérous will therefore resume his full-time role as mayor of Châteauroux and president of Châteauroux Métropole. A dual function that he continued to assume during his three months at the ministry. Contacted, the resigning minister said he was “disappointed not to continue an adventure that began two and a half months ago. Especially since our team was operational and had already initiated some major in-depth files. » It nevertheless remains “grateful to Michel Barnier for having trusted me by offering me to join his government”.
“Wealth of encounters”
Of these 91 days, Gil Avérous remembers “rich meetings with a multitude of interlocutors: those from the sporting world, the youth network, the civic service agency, the Universal National Service…” He also says he is proud to have notably “allowed the appointment of Marie-Amélie Le Fur to the presidency of the National Sports Agency (ANS)”. And greet as you pass “the admirable investment” ministry staff.
The mayor of Châteauroux will hand over to his successor, Marie Barsacq, this Tuesday, December 24, at the end of the morning. He assures to leave “reassured, looking at his profile. She is a very competent file manager. Thanks to her experience and professionalism, I have no doubt that she will continue what we have initiated regarding the legacy of the Paris 2024 Games.”
