“Faced with contempt from the State”, the mayor of Verdun calls on local elected officials to resign

Samuel Hazard, the mayor of Verdun, in the Meuse department, calls on local elected officials to generally resign to contest the budget cuts imposed on communities. He denounces the “dishonesty and lies” of the State.

“Let us stop saying that communities are responsible for the explosion of debt, it’s dishonesty, it’s a lie”denounces, Friday October 11, on franceinfo, the mayor of Verdun, in the Meuse, Samuel Hazard, who calls on local elected officials to resign to protest against the budget cuts decided by the government.

The Prime Minister presented to the Assembly on Thursday October 10 his ideas for getting France’s finances back on track. A large-scale budgetary effort is being prepared and local authorities will have to put their hands in their pockets. Michel Barnier is asking for 5 billion savings from local authorities, town halls, departments and regions out of the 60 billion planned.

“Faced with the contempt of the State towards us, after letters, missives where we never have answers, at a given moment, all elected officials must brandish the threat of resigning because the Republic, we embody it on a daily basis. We must create a real balance of power.”he explains. The mayor wishes “bring together all elected officials” around him.

This 5 billion effort can have concrete consequences in Verdun. “It could be fewer sporting and cultural activities. We will be forced to postpone investments because I don’t want to increase taxes,” said Samuel Hazard. He criticizes the government for deciding alone. “We don’t say no to say no. Yes, we have to make savings given the dramatic situation in which our public finances are”he said. But the mayor demands “consultation and co-construction” with local elected officials.