1.4 million euros for the Var floods, reduction in ZOU rates, emergency call points in 12 new towns... What to remember from the Regional plenary session

A regional plenary assembly on a Wednesday instead of a Friday, to allow parliamentarians to attend as usual? This exception is justified by the presence, this June 27 in Briançon, of Prime Minister François Bayrou at the Interministerial Committee for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will also include Renaud Muselier, president of the regional council.

As a preamble to the day, the announcement of the double certification of the Region by AFNOR, the French standardization association, for the quality of its public procurement procedures and its anti-corruption management system while "the territory has been marked, in the past, by cases of corruption in the communities" and that "drug traffickers are trying to corrupt political institutions" , specifies the former Minister of Foreign Affairs. The latter continues with a "thought for all the civilian and innocent victims of the conflicts that have been mourning the world, particularly in the Middle East and the Near East since October 7, 2023" , while evoking the "dark forces" and recalling that "war is at the gates of Europe" .

Then comes the battle of numbers. First, around the establishment of the single financial account for 2024. "It's time to get out the calculators for something other than repainting the figures in green," argues Coline Houssays (RN, UDR and independent group), who points to "red lines" and declining investments. "Talking points" quickly swept aside by Pierre-Paul Leonelli, second vice-president of the Region, highlighting investments that have increased from 550 to 850 million euros since 2018. Before Renaud Muselier, for whom the RN elected officials would have caused the Region to lose 15 billion euros in subsidies if they were in his place, has the last word: "You blame us for using savings to finance investment? But that's the principle. You haven't understood anything."

95% of investments made

Act II, when it comes to addressing the 2025 supplementary budget. For Coline Houssays, this "is akin to a rewriting of the original budget." "With more than 750 million euros in flux, we are talking about a second budget carried by an avalanche of new credits, reversals and transfers, which reflects a failing anticipation," she insists. The opponent also discovers "15 million euros for the 2030 Olympic Games injected without this assembly having been consulted on territorial issues, counterparts and long-term issues." And deplores the fact that 41 million euros of investments planned for 2024 remain to be made. "Out of 900 million, that only represents 5%," replies Jean-Pierre Colin, vice-president in charge of finance and cooperation partnerships. Thank you for your interventions which allow the majority to shine more easily."

Time for the assessment of the Ocean Summit (UNOC), seen as a "real success" with 150 delegations and more than 60 heads of state, as well as the ratification by 95 countries of the Nice call for a treaty on plastics. Before the adoption in plenary session of the agreements for a sustainable Mediterranean, despite the skepticism of Thierry D'Aigremont (far right) on the interest of a Mediterranean macro region which could, according to him, "reproduce European burdens" . This is followed by the vote on the climate plan 3 "even more ambitious than the previous ones" with more than 5 billion euros committed over the period 2025-2028, with 123 actions, including the creation of the 10th regional natural park in the territories of Maures, Estérel and Tanneron (our previous editions) .

In terms of purchasing power, the 20% drop in Zou! subscriptions starting July 1st. This equates to a loss of revenue of 3 to 4 million euros per year. But for regular travelers, the price of a Marseille-Toulon subscription will increase to 111 euros (instead of 138 euros) and to 60 euros (instead of 75 euros) for Cannes-Nice journeys . The Region is also planning "an unlimited-use subscription for the entire Zou! network for next year," announced Jean-François Perilhou, president of the transport and ports commission. In the process, 4.5 million will be allocated to the development of cycling, with five cycle facilities, notably in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes.

Inclusive writing and blue crab

A more sensitive subject, inclusive writing is banned for grant applications and applications. Two months after the controversy over the withdrawal of subsidies from the Marseille Kourtrajmé school, which uses inclusive writing deemed "wokiste" , and the pressure exerted by the National Rally, the Region is backpedaling by wanting to "open a space for dialogue and give a pledge of appeasement within the associative network" to ensure "artistic and creative freedom" . And Renaud Muselier confronts the RN with its contradictions, brandishing his phone: "You who lecture us all day long, did you know that the website of the Rognac town hall (recently won by Marine Le Pen's party, Editor's note) also uses inclusive writing? Come on, goodbye."

Following the deadly floods in the Var region on May 19 and 20 , elected officials also adopted a €1.4 million allocation through the climate change adaptation fund for affected municipalities and inter-municipalities, as well as tourism businesses and the agricultural sector. All this, "with a view to those who, even today, are living amidst the grave events, silences, and absences ," says François de Canson, vice-president in charge of economic development, attractiveness, tourism, and major risk prevention.

During the session, in addition to the issue of the blue crab and the initiation of discussions on a sector for the development and commercialization of this invasive species, in addition to regulatory campaigns, the experimentation of emergency call points attracted attention. In particular, the deployment of this safety device at twelve new sites: La Ciotat, Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime, Cannes, Grasse, Forcalquier, Embrun, Vaison-la-Romaine, Briançon, and Arles. In the same spirit, the Region plans to implement autonomous call points at festivals this summer and later in the heart of regional natural parks to prevent fire risks.

Such a terminal would have its place in a regional hemicycle, which is sometimes heated. As when RN deputy Franck Allisio wants to rename it Jean-Claude Gaudin. "It's a provocation and an insult to his memory," retorts Pierre-Paul Leonelli. Or when Philippe Vardon (not related) tries to speak uninvited. "You respect the speakers and if you're not happy, you leave," Renaud Muselier fumed. "You are disrespectful of political life. It doesn't surprise me that you keep losing. Even the RN doesn't want you anymore."