Reimbursed 1,000 euros out of the 19,000 spent to organize the legislative elections: a mayor of Occitanie challenges Emmanuel Macron

La maire d’une commune demande le remboursement de l’organisation des élections législatives à Emmanuel Macron. (illustration) Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Ce lundi, la maire d’une commune près de Toulouse en Haute-Garonne, a partagé sur les réseaux sociaux un courrier envoyé à Emmanuel Macron demandant le remboursement des frais après l’organisation des élections législatives.

The legislative elections were held at the beginning of the summer following the dissolution of the Assembly announced by the President of the Republic after the European elections. But organizing these elections comes at a cost, something that the mayor of Pibrac, a town located about fifteen kilometers from Toulouse, did not fail to tell Emmanuel Macron, reports France 3.

“Fed up with being told that we spend too much”

“Mr. President, on the evening of the European elections of June 9, you took the decision to dissolve the National Assembly and organize a legislative election on June 30 and July 7, 2024”, these were Camille Pouponneau's first words to the Head of State.

The Chosen One posted his message on Facebook. “Did you know ? The surprise dissolution of the President of the Republic cost 18,762 euros  to the municipality. The State will compensate us with about 1,000 euros (sic!). In total, this unforeseen expense represents the equivalent of one year of rsquo;purchase of books for the media library, half of the school supplies purchased over the year or even the recruitment for 6 months of a person in the technical department”, can -we read on the social network.

Indeed, the organization of this election represented a significant expense for the municipality that was not anticipated, and this is the reason for this request for reimbursement. "Since the arrival of the President of the Republic, we have been constantly told that the communities are responsible for the public debt, and yet, for 10 years, decisions have been taken in Paris without consultation that directly impact the municipalities. Fed up with being told that we spend too much”, castigates Camille Pouponneau.

The municipalities are suffering, in particular because of the post-Covid period, price inflation but also the exceptional financial mobilization of the municipalities decided by Emmanuel Macron, explains the mayor of Pibrac. His request is clear: “that you therefore return to the finance bill of your majority including the reduction in grants to municipalities in constant euros.“

“The shortfall in revenue in communities that cannot hold elections solely through volunteering is colossal”, Jacques Oberti, new MP and resigning from his position as president of the association of mayors of Haute-Garonne, told our colleagues at La Dispatch.