Strasbourg (AFP)
"Now, let's go! Alsace is back": the European Collectivity of Alsace (CEA), officially born on January 1, elected on Saturday in Colmar the first president in its history, LR Frédéric Bierry, alone candidate.
Former president of the Departmental Council of Bas-Rhin, which merges with that of Haut-Rhin in the CEA, Frédéric Bierry was elected handily by 75 votes out of 79 voters.
"The European community of Alsace was born, this desire for Alsace is materializing today in a formal way", had previously welcomed Yves Le Tallec, 83, who opened in Colmar this inaugural "historic" meeting in his capacity. of oldest age.
"I know you will meet the expectations that the rebirth of Alsace also arouses among our German and Swiss neighbors", he underlined to the address of the new "Alsace advisers", concluding in Alsatian: "Now it's on! Alsace is back".
The CEA responds to a strong demand from the Alsatians, many of whom considered their identity diluted in the vast Grand Est region which extends from 2015 to the distant Champagne-Ardenne.
However, it remains in its fold.
This community now brings together nearly 1.9 million Alsatians as well as the 880 municipalities of the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin which remain with their two prefectures, in Strasbourg and Colmar.
It inherits the skills traditionally devolved to departmental councils: management of colleges, social assistance and for seniors, fire and rescue services ...
But it also has new skills in cross-border cooperation with neighboring Germany and Switzerland, in areas such as cross-border links or health.
It will also have free rein in terms of French / German bilingualism, being able to recruit teachers, but also tourism or on departmental and national roads as well as non-licensed highways.
© 2021 AFP