- Valérie Pécresse puts pressure in the showdown that opposes the government.
- The board of directors of Ile-de-France Mobilités voted unanimously Wednesday the provisional halt of payments to RATP and SNCF for July.
- "I am waiting for the government to take up this matter and for us to meet as soon as possible to discuss this very serious public transport crisis in the country," she said.
"We have spent countless times to deal with the Covid-19 crisis," said Valérie Pécresse in the press room of the Ile-de-France Region in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis) on Wednesday. Cleaning, disinfection, security and above all 100% payment for its operators ... "Ile-de-France Mobilités was exemplary during the crisis," she adds. But today, for lack of help and "support" from the State, the president of the region (LR) and Ile-de-France Mobilités, announces a drastic measure.
The board of directors of Ile-de-France Mobilités has in fact voted unanimously to stop provisionally "paying monthly installments" for RATP and SNCF - which represents 400 million euros - for the months and July and this, “until the budget of Ile-de-France Mobilités in 2020 is again balanced”. In other words, until the State compensates for the loss of revenue due to the coronavirus crisis. "This decision follows the government's refusal to consider a massive support plan for public transport in France and in particular in Ile-de-France", deplores Valérie Pécresse and to attack: "We call on the newly formed government to open the eyes ”.
"Operators will use their cash"
For the time being, the State is offering the Ile-de-France transport organizing authority compensation of 425 million euros. This represents, according to Valérie Pécresse, "only" 16% of the total loss of revenue from the Ile-de-France transport system. The Region estimates in fact 2.6 billion revenue losses in 2020: 1.6 billion commercial revenue lost due to the fall in attendance and one billion mobility payments. And it is already counting on 1.5 billion euros in 2021. But Valérie Pécresse assures her: “It is out of the question that travelers are paying the bill for the crisis when in all other countries it is the states that have compensated for the losses ”. So how will operators organize themselves while awaiting a gesture from the State?
At this stage, “the operators will use their cash” - notably thanks to an overpayment of 600 million euros - to ensure the circulation of public transport, assured Valérie Pécresse, warning that the investment projects would be affected “ from the end of July "if the situation did not get out of hand. Just like the economy, which could also suffer. "The financial impasse of Ile-de-France Mobilités will have consequences throughout France and tens, hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake," she said.
"I am waiting for the government to pull itself together"
Valérie Pécresse therefore requests "a massive plan" and warns: "If there is no compensation from the State, this means imposing a Covid tax of 20 euros on Ile-de-France travelers per month. And this tax will not pass through us ”. She therefore wishes to start a discussion as soon as possible. "I am waiting for the government to pull itself together and for us to get together as soon as possible to discuss this very serious public transport crisis in the country," she continued, regretting "to have the impression of speaking in the vacuum with a government of accountants ".
At the beginning of July, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, then Secretary of State for Transport, now Minister Delegate, declared on the set of BFM TV: "Ms. Pécresse has the financial means to pay the RATP and the SNCF on July 8". But we are open to continue the discussions and she knows it. "
Paris
Coronavirus: Valérie Pécresse asks the government to compensate for losses in Ile-de-France transport
Society
Coronavirus: SNCF expects to welcome 20% fewer passengers on its trains this summer
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