In a congress marked by anger, the mayors establish a balance of power against Michel Barnier

David Lisnard cite Bismark : “Diplomacy without weapons is music without instruments. » The precept of the former German chancellor will set the tone for the congress of mayors, which is being held in Paris from Tuesday November 19 to Wednesday November 21. The Association of Mayors of France (AMF), of which Mr. Lisnard (Les Républicains, LR), mayor of Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes), is president, intends to exert maximum pressure on the government to advance its demands. At the forefront of these: obtaining that the effort requested by the government from local authorities for 2025 is reduced. At this stage there are 5 billion euros in savings.

The vice-president of the AMF and mayor of Issoudun (Indre), the socialist André Laignel, assures that it is in reality “11 billion” which will be levied, if we count all the measures affecting community revenue. And he warns: it is a “congress of anger” which opens. The AMF wants to make this a show of force.

On Tuesday, a rally in scarf is planned on the congress grounds. “Feeding the Danaïdes barrel of a State which never makes the efforts it imposes on others, that’s enough, and we’re going to say itlance M. Lisnard. I spend my time containing the anger of the mayors. But, at some point, we have to be careful that the next “yellow vests” are not in tricolor scarves…” Elected officials have also planned actions outside the congress. Ten town halls in Gard will be closed from November 19 to 21 as a sign of protest, according to France Bleu and France 3.

“Less bureaucracy”

So much for “weapons”. “Diplomacy” will notably involve “demonstration”. Mr. Lisnard will once again defend the idea that draining community resources “only fuels a system that creates a deficit”. For the mayor of Cannes, who is preparing for the 2027 presidential election, the country would be much better off with less “central technocracy”, “less bureaucracy” and more autonomy for local elected officials.

It is in this context that the Prime Minister is expected on Thursday at the congress of mayors. He is ready for concessions. Friday November 15, speaking before the departments gathered in congress, Michel Barnier assured that he would take their situation into account: “We are going to very significantly reduce the effort required of you by the finance bill”he said. Without advancing any amount. It was the President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher (LR), who took charge of this, estimating, on Sunday, that the effort of local authorities should be “around 2 billion euros”and not 5 billion, in an interview with Sunday newspaper.

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