Paris (AFP)
The Parliament widely adopted on Thursday the bill intended to make life easier for mayors, especially in rural areas, three months before the municipal elections.
Supported by the Minister in charge of Communities Sébastien Lecornu, the text was adopted by a final vote of the Assembly by 94 votes to 1 and 10 abstentions, with the votes of the majority LREM-MoDem, but also of LR or of the PS.
This bill relating to "engagement in local life and proximity to public action" was the subject of an agreement between deputies and senators in joint joint committee, thus allowing this rapid adoption and application certain measures from January 1.
Mr. Lecornu welcomed shortly before the vote that the text showed that "bicameralism works well". Assuming that it is not "revolutionary", he noted that "it is all the better because each time" that this has been the case on territorial issues, "our local elected colleagues have taken several years to s 'hand over ".
The rapporteur Bruno Questel (LREM) praised a "balanced" bill resulting from "co-construction between the two chambers and which" meets the strong expectations of local elected representatives, especially of the smallest municipalities ".
For his colleague Sacha Houlié (LREM) it is "a way to say thank you", Vincent Bru (MoDem) bringing on behalf of his group his "fullest support".
"It was a question of repositioning the mayor to reposition democracy at the heart of our local system, I think it's done," said Raphaël Schellenberger (LR), while formulating a few caveats, especially on the creation of a "complex mechanism" on water and sanitation competence.
While announcing a favorable vote, the UDI-Agir Lise Magnier spoke of "a large mixed set which does not completely satisfy the local elected representatives".
Like others, Philippe Vigier (Libertés et Territoires) saw in this text "a first step" before the famous "3D law" for decentralization, deconcentration, differentiation. The only one elected to vote against came from his group.
For the PS, Cécile Untermaier mentioned certain regrets, particularly on the ethics aspect, but indicated that the elected representatives voted for the majority.
The left of the left was more reserved, LFI like the PCF opting for abstention. Stéphane Peu (PCF) notably regretted that the parity in the municipal councils of the small communes was returned "to the Greek calendars".
© 2019 AFP