Never has "representation" attracted so many people to Levallois-Perret. A crowd full of journalists and the two others filled with Levalloisiens curious to attend the last municipal council of the Balkany era, this Thursday evening.
Released Wednesday evening for health reasons after five months in prison, following his convictions at first instance for tax fraud and money laundering, the mayor (LR) Patrick Balkany did not appear to chair the last council of his term . The last piece of advice in his political career started right here in 1983.
His wife and first assistant Isabelle Balkany, acting mayor since September 13, entered shortly after 7 p.m., to the applause of a part of the public. Before giving news of "(his) man". "We fell asleep late, he needed to speak, to say what he experienced," she explains.
Before thanking Professor Doucet, who followed him when he was hospitalized at Cochin hospital in December, following his intestinal infarction and "who saved his life". "This morning, Patrick replied that he had the best coaches: his three dogs to force him to walk before the operation, which awaits him in a few days", confides the elected official.
"The love story" by Patrick Balkany
After this short intervention, Isabelle Balkany reads a letter from the one who is still mayor of Levallois. "I want to tell you a love story," she begins, before recalling their first hours in Levallois-Perret, their meeting with the city officials. The opportunity to pay tribute to them. "I want to tell the officers how proud I am of what they have accomplished," she said on behalf of her husband.
A letter, which continues with a long list of what has been done: schools, colleges, sports and cultural facilities. Without forgetting the municipal police, the first in France.
"The stories of love and affection never end and it will continue with Agnès Pottier-Dumas and David-Xavier Weiss", reads Isabelle Balkany, who therefore punctuates the missive with a very clear voting instruction for the elections next March, in favor of the list led by the former director of the mayor's office.
Director of services to Patrick Balkany: "For you, we would have won the moon"
"Thank you for supporting my genetic impatience which wants everything to be done the day before yesterday", concludes Isabelle Balkany, this time on her behalf.
Hauts-de-Seine Newsletter
Every morning, the news of your department seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
It is then the turn of the Director General of Services (DGS) to speak, leaving the reserve which traditionally applies to administrative agents. “Let me, on behalf of all of the city's agents, say thank you for being an exceptional leader. For you, we would have won the moon. We will miss you because you and Levallois are one, ”explains the DGS, addressing the absent mayor.
In the aftermath, the municipal opposition council (DVD) Arnaud de Courson demands the floor, supported by part of the public chanting "democracy". In vain.
He will have to wait for the end of the call for elected officials. "I would first like to wish my mayor a speedy recovery," he begins, before thanking the municipal officials too.
Division within the LREM group
"Starting next March, a new team will preside over the destiny of Levallois," he continues, making "the wish for an end of the campaign under the sign of the debate of ideas".
"So we have a Bernadette Soubiroux among us," quipped Isabelle Balkany.
The last intervention "out of order" went to the opposition municipal councilor Jean-Laurent Turbet, who announced his departure from the LREM group of the municipal council, "despite (his) unwavering loyalty to the President of the Republic". But describes as "ambitious group", the LREM list vying for municipal elections, which he is leaving at the same time.
The board then resumed its “normal” course, the vote of the 36 deliberations being linked at a frantic pace. With more attention paid to the points concerning the Barbusse market, totally devastated last summer by a fire.
The last piece of advice ends at around 9:30 p.m. on the final thanks from Isabelle Balkany to the elected officials. "I wish you a safe journey," she concludes, visibly moved.
