Should we see a desire to influence the direction of Sciences Po? Valérie Pécresse, LR president of the Ile-de-France region, announced on Monday the “suspension” of her region’s subsidies to Sciences Po, “until serenity and security are restored” within the establishment. ‘Higher Education. Pro-Palestinian activists occupied the Paris site last week. Calm finally returned during the weekend, after a promise from Sciences Po management to organize an internal debate.
As regional president, can Valérie Pécresse decide on such a suspension? 20 minutes takes stock with two public law specialists.
What subsidies are we talking about?
An initial allocation of one million euros, planned as part of the State-region plan contract, “will not be affected for the moment” “due to recent events”, responds the region to 20 minutes.
Credits of an amount greater than “a little over 100,000 euros” are also suspended. These must be assigned to “international mobility” and “as part of mentor contracts”, specifies the community.
Can Valérie Pécresse decide alone to stop paying subsidies?
“At Sciences Po, the only subsidies that are obligatory are those from the State,” reminds 20 minutes Jean-Paul Markus, professor of law at Paris-Saclay University and editorial director of legal-checking Highlighters. And, on this point, the management of Sciences Po Paris can breathe easy: Sylvie Retailleau, the Minister of Higher Education, confirmed on Tuesday that the State “will not cut its subsidy”.
Does this mean that Valérie Pécresse, regional president, has free rein to stop the payment of this million euros? “To award a subsidy, you need the vote of a deliberative assembly,” explains Jean-Baptiste Vila, lecturer in public law at the University of French Polynesia. To suspend the payment of a subsidy, the executive – a regional president, a departmental council president or a mayor – does not need the approval of its deliberative assembly. »
It is possible to suspend the payment of a “recurring subsidy”, underlines Jean-Paul Markus. “But a subsidy that must be paid at once, legally we cannot suspend it. You can only cancel and request recovery. »
A hard blow for Sciences Po, really?
When requested, Sciences Po did not respond to our requests. However, the establishment indicates on its website that its budget was 200 million euros in 2019. The financial support of the region with these two credits, of just over one million euros, appears less essential than that of the State, assessed by the minister at 75 million euros this year.
Which exit door?
Valérie Pécresse spoke of a “suspension” and not a deletion of these credits. “As soon as the situation stops, this will mean that there will be a catch-up” of payments, underlines Jean-Paul Markus.
Jean Bassères, provisional administrator of Sciences Po, announced this Thursday that he wanted to meet Valérie Pécresse to “reassure her about her concerns”. “I personally cannot accept the idea that the attitude of a minority of students could penalize the 15,000 students at Sciences Po,” he said after an internal debate.