A lawsuit of bad intention? While the next plenary assembly of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is to be held Thursday and Friday in Lyon, the executive announced this Monday morning that it would finally take place by videoconference. The reason given: the national context, namely the “fuel shortage which greatly affects” the country as well as the “call for a renewable national strike in rail transport”.
“The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region is one of the areas most affected by the lack of fuel. Even if the Feyzin refinery has just been requisitioned, it takes 5 to 10 days for a return to normal, “explains the entourage of President Laurent Wauquiez to Progress. And to add: “Many elected officials, from rural areas, also do not have railway stations near their homes and therefore no alternative to the car for their travels. »
“Anti-democratic tour de force”
This decision, which comes a few days after the investigation by Mediapart revealing the organization of a summer dinner at 100,000 euros financed with public money, has aroused indignation in the ranks of the opposition, which cannot help but see in it “a pitiful dodge”, according to the terms of the socialist Najat Vallaud-Belkacem.
“We are not fooled by the dodging strategy of the regional executive and its President, in a context where recent media revelations have highlighted certain practices”, protests the socialist, environmentalist and democratic group of the region in a press release, describing the reason invoked as “fallacious” and speaking of an “undemocratic tour de force”.
“At this time, no other regional council has taken such a decision”
“Laurent Wauquiez slips away. This passage in force aims to mute the critics while he is summoned to render accounts ”, reacts for its part the EELV group in a press release illustrated by the image of a man burying his head in the sand. “At this time, no other regional council has taken such a decision,” he said again.
“One year after the regional election, we are already living in an atmosphere of end of reign, between the searches of the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office for the Sitbon affair and the revelations of Mediapart on these opulent dinners, judge Fabienne Grébert, president of the group The ecologists. Laurent Wauquiez flees criticism and confines himself to his comfortable inner bubble, at the expense of the taxpayer and in defiance of democracy. »
“Our local democracy and the related issues deserve better than a evaded debate”, adds the socialist group, specifying that its elected officials will be physically present Thursday in front of the Hôtel de region in order to be able to sit in the hemicycle.
It remains to be seen whether holding the plenary assembly by videoconference can really prevent elected officials from questioning the president on this matter? “In vision, it is very easy to cut the microphones”, replies the socialist Pierrick Courbon in conclusion.