Illustration of a Christmas market.

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Romain Doucelin / SIPA

  • The new mayor of Hautmont, Stéphane Wilmotte, has decided to take over the Christmas market.

  • This Christmas market is one of the most beautiful in the region.

  • The association which organized this event was not able to present accounting documents.

No gifts for the organizers of the Hautmont Christmas market, in the North.

The new mayor (DVD), Stéphane Wilmotte, has decided to take over the flagship event of the town, considered one of the most beautiful markets in the region.

In question, a lack of transparency in the accounts.

It was through a press release that the town of Hautmont announced last week its intention to maintain its Christmas market in December.

A few days earlier, in Pas-de-Calais, Arras - another city famous for its market - had thrown in the towel, because of health measures linked to Covid-19.

Annual grant of 778,000 euros

During previous terms of office, this event, called "Hautmont, capital of Christmas", took place within the framework of an agreement concluded between the town hall and the Corso Fair Organizing Committee.

This association, created in 1993 and which also organized another cultural event "Hautmont Belle-Ile", thus benefited from an annual municipal subsidy of 778,000 euros.

After his election, in June, Stéphane Wilmotte asked "the accounting elements allowing the municipality to proceed to the payment of the subsidy aimed at compensating for the public service obligations linked to these two events".

In vain.

According to the town hall, "the Committee indicated, on August 11, that it was not in a position to provide supporting documents for the services provided by the Belgian company Tour de Sites, the provider of the public contract launched by the Committee".

Takeover of the organization

The mayor has therefore decided to take over the organization under management.

"Especially since we will have to review the event because of health constraints," says the town hall.

The other event could also return to the municipal fold.

Decision will be made by the end of the year.

But is the case closed?

Not necessarily.

Questioned by

20 Minutes

, the city does not wish to comment on the consequences, possibly legal, given to this mystery.

"We are going to shed light on the absence of supporting documents," is content to emphasize the town hall.

Even if it means provoking a settling of scores between the son, Stéphane Wilmotte, and his father, Joël Wilmotte, the former mayor?

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  • Town hall

  • Lille

  • Association

  • Subsidies

  • Christmas market