Saint-Denis becomes the 2nd city of Ile-de-

Mathieu Hanotin and Michel Fourcade, the mayors (PS) of Saint-Denis and Pierrefitte-sur-Seine. ©DR

Lhe “new commune” of Saint-Denis will be a reality this Wednesday 1is January. Fruit of the merger of Saint-Denis and its neighbor Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, it will become the second most populous city in Ile-de- after , with nearly 150,000 inhabitants. A position far from being only symbolic since this merger must be accompanied by a significant increase in the municipality's revenues thanks in particular to an increase in the overall state funding allocation.

A project that is not unanimous

But this merger is not unanimous. Announced to everyone's surprise in April 2023, the project is criticized, in particular by residents of the two municipalities united within the association “Stop fusion Pierrefitte Saint-Denis! “. Dionysians and Pierrefittois who believe that their mayors have remained “ deaf to the questions, skepticism and refusal of many residents in the face of the imposed fait accompli », recalling that this merger project did not appear on any program during the 2020 municipal elections.

This reluctance from part of the population, however, did not prevent the project from being built. After the vote of the municipal councils of Saint-Denis and Pierrefitte-sur-Seine in favor of this merger (approved by 75% of elected officials) on May 30, the prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis signed, on June 13, the decree officially creating this “new commune” to the great dismay of the members of the “Stop fusion Pierrefitte Saint-Denis!” association. » who recommended a postponement of the project to the municipal elections of 2026. And, contacted by 25 residents of the two municipalities opposed to the project (including some elected officials), the administrative court of rejected, on October 30, their request for suspension of the execution of the prefect's decision creating this new commune of “Saint-Denis”, formalized by the decree of June 13.

What changes for residents?

This merger will not change much for the inhabitants of Saint-Denis and Pierrefitte-sur-Seine. At least, at first. On the administrative level, the 1is January, Pierrefitte will become a delegated municipality of Saint-Denis and will retain its postal code. “ The current town halls and annex town halls will remain reception points for civil status and local public services will be maintained. », Specified the City of Saint-Denis a few months ago. In terms of taxation, “ the municipality of Saint-Denis had made a commitment in 2020 not to increase taxes on Dionysians during the mandate. The property tax rate of Pierrefittois will therefore drop by 19% from 2025 in order to align with that of Saint-Denis “, also indicated the town hall.

In terms of security, from 1is January, ” the municipal police will be present throughout the territory of the new municipality 24/7 », also announced the City of Saint-Denis which will host the central site of the municipal police. Municipal police which will also have a local site in Pierrefitte.

Regarding the municipal council of the “new commune”, it will welcome the current municipal councils of the two communes which will sit there jointly from this month of January until 2026, the year of the next municipal elections at the end of which the residents of the “new commune” will elect their elected officials as in a “classic” town: a mayor and 59 municipal councilors. The delegated municipality of Pierrefitte will, however, still have a delegated mayor. Until then, the mayor (PS) of Saint-Denis Mathieu Hanotin will head the transitional municipal council of the “new commune” of Saint-Denis while the mayor (PS) of Pierrefitte Michel Fourcade will serve as mayor. delegate of the latter and first deputy of the “new commune”.

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