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Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unveiled 23 measures for the department of Seine-Saint-Denis (photo illustration) REUTERS / Benoit Tessier

This Thursday, October 31, in the prefecture of Bobigny, the French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has formalized nearly 23 measures for the department of Seine-Saint-Denis (north of Paris).

Édouard Philippe and several senior ministers have formalized this Thursday morning a battery of 23 measures for the Seine-Saint-Denis, a department that accumulates significant difficulties. This plan is based on a parliamentary report submitted in 2018 which drew a hard observation on the management of this devastated territory north of Paris.

" We want to ensure that the refusal of house arrest, the promise made to everyone to succeed in life, is indeed possible for all those who live, grow, settle and choose this department ", justified the Prime Minister.

A bonus of 10,000 euros

The most emblematic measure concerns the payment of a bonus of 10,000 euros to state employees, provided that they remain at least five years in office.

Édouard Philippe also announced the recruitment of 150 new police officers. Thus, 50 additional police will be divided in two districts, in Saint-Ouen and La Courneuve, within the framework of the security police of the daily newspaper . And 100 police officer positions will be deployed by 2021. The police stations of Aulnay-sous-Bois and Épinay-sur-Seine will be renovated by 2023 with a budget of 30 million euros, and the extension of the Bobigny court carried out for 2026. Moreover, to accelerate an obstructed chain of justice, 35 clerks and 12 magistrates will be created.

The government's plan also includes the allocation of 20 million euros to finance real estate investments for the education sector. A "pre-recruitment" system of 500 teachers will be set up. It will fund the studies of students scholarship department who will engage in return to work on site.

"A first step"

On the health aspect - which was not included in the parliamentary report - five inspectors in charge of the control of unworthy housing will be recruited. Only two are currently stationed, while potentially 10% of the habitat is unsafe.

Clémentine Autain, MP Insubordine France of Seine-Saint-Denis, salutes " a first step ". It takes a " catch-up plan in the long term, " she insists. " There are a number of real advances including the loyalty bonus for state agents, but it will take a closer look , warns the chairman of the Seine-Saint-Denis Departmental Council, Stéphane Troussel, cautious . Will it benefit the officials in place ? Will it be extended to hospital staff ? While we know that in terms of health, the territory of Seine-Saint-Denis is a medical desert . And Stéphane Troussel concludes: " There is still much to be done to restore the conditions of equality in this territory of Seine-Saint-Denis ."