The intermunicipalities asked the government on Wednesday June 24 to withdraw its bill aimed at “strengthening the local State” which they consider “completely contrary to the decentralizing ambition initially displayed”.
“The elected representatives of Intercommunalités de France express great disappointment with the text proposed by the government, which does not include any measure of decentralization or improvement of the working framework and cooperation between the State and the communities”, underlines the association in a press release, saying it fears “a drive for recentralization contrary to the principle of free administration of communities”.
The prefect, big winner of the project
The text provides for a strengthening of the role of prefects and creates a “one-stop shop” around the prefect. The regional delegations of the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe) will be transferred to prefectural services, while the prefect will be given a “general power of substitution” which will allow him to replace the community in the event of a deficiency. This last prerogative, which can be deployed “when the deficiency compromises the operation of public services or the application of laws”, is strongly criticized by intermunicipalities.
“The placing under supervision of Ademe agents in charge of supporting communities in the ecological transition, also constitutes the beginning of the dismantling of an agency useful for elected officials, directly in contact with populations confronted with the consequences of climate change”, underlines Intercommunalités de France, judging the text “harmful for the proper functioning of communities”.
The president of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF), David Lisnard, also criticized on Wednesday a text “sold as an act of decentralization” but according to him “carrying recentralization”. He described the principle of substitution of the prefect as an “unheard of, unconstitutional provision, contrary to the principle of free administration”.
The text must be examined in public session in the Senate from July 7.
