The Council of State canceled the dismissal of Christophe Lannelongue, former boss of the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of the Grand Est, dismissed from his post at the beginning of April after controversial remarks on job cuts at the Nancy CHRU, AFP learned on Friday.
In a decision published on its website, the highest administrative court granted the request filed by Christophe Lannelongue which pointed to an
“excess of power”
in the way in which the decree terminating his functions had been taken.
Read also: The director of ARS Grand Est sacked
The Council of State underlines that Christophe Lannelongue should have been informed in advance of the government's intention, in order to allow him to
"take cognizance of the reasons for his eviction
" and to make known any
"observations".
He had only informed him that very day.
"All officials have the right to personal and confidential communication of all notes, identification sheets and all other documents making up their file, either before being the subject of a disciplinary measure or compulsory displacement, or before being delayed in their advancement by seniority, ”
recalls the Council of State.
Director General of ARS Grand Est since January 2017, Christophe Lannelongue was sacked on April 8, when the coronavirus crisis was particularly virulent in the region.
He had declared a few days earlier that there was "no reason to question" the cuts of 174 beds and 598 positions planned over five years at the Nancy hospital.
These remarks immediately aroused the ire of many elected officials from Lorraine and medical staff, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announcing the suspension of all hospital reorganization plans.
In November, the socialist mayor of Nancy, Mathieu Klein, invited the Minister of Health to pay a visit to the CHRU and to confirm without ambiguity the maintenance of posts and beds.
He also requested the assumption of the debt of the CHRU and an
"accompaniment"
in the reorganization plan of the establishment, which requires an investment of 675 million euros.
