Le Figaro Nice
The public interest group (GIP) in charge of the management of the former Formula 1 French Grand Prix has finally been dissolved but the imbroglio surrounding the settlement of the remaining debt does not seem to be quite over.
In a decree dated March 1, the prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Christophe Mirmand, recorded this dissolution and indicated that
"the authorities are responsible for appointing the liquidator without delay and organizing the terms of the liquidation”
.
At the end of four editions of this major sporting event on the Castellet circuit (Var), a debt of 32 million was left and this must be repaid by the communities which make up the GIP.
The group was born in 2017 at the initiative of the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, who became its president.
Problem is, not all stakeholders are willing to pay their share and want to understand the contours of such a slate.
Some GIP administrators suspect embezzlement and are refusing to put their hands in their pockets for the moment.
This is the case of the Var department, the metropolis of Toulon and the agglomeration of Sainte-Baume.
The region has already paid the sum of 12 million euros and the metropolis of Nice, 5 million euros.
There would therefore remain around 15 million euros to be cleared with creditors who are still waiting.
Read alsoFormula 1: this investigation into the management of the French Grand Prix which embarrasses Christian Estrosi
“Premature and incomprehensible”
But for Jean-Louis Masson, the president of the Var community,
“this dissolution is premature and incomprehensible”
.
He intends to go to the administrative court soon to challenge this prefectural decree.
The elected official in Les Républicains is surprised that the state representative relied on two letters from Christian Estrosi - of which he explains that he was not aware - to make his decision.
In these writings,
“obvious persistent dysfunctions”
were confirmed, according to the prefect.
But for him,
“the request for early dissolution is justified by a blocking situation whose serious nature is proven”
.
“The blockage does not come from us, but from the president of the GIP
,” defends Jean-Louis Masson again.
As an administrator, he asks to get his hands on documents, including invoices, to understand certain expenses that would explain such a debt, things which he does not obtain.
Two audits commissioned by the GIP also did not convince him.
And above all, he is surprised that no board of directors was held beforehand to decide on this dissolution.
“We don't want to pay until we have a precise inventory
,” assumes Jean-Louis Masson on behalf of his community.
Read also Expenses of the French F1 Grand Prix: Estrosi denounces the “slander” of LR MP Christelle d’Intorni
Board of Directors March 21
A board of directors of the “fire” GIP will be held on March 21 at 4 p.m. by videoconference,
Le Figaro
learned .
This meeting between all the players promises to be tense once again since it is on this occasion that the liquidator must be appointed, we can read in the letter that we have obtained.
At the same time, the revelations of certain expenses linked to the Grand Prix by the deputy for Alpes-Maritimes Christelle d'Intorni continue to fuel the controversy, all against a backdrop of political rivalries.
The chosen one ended up getting her hands on the ledgers before questioning the justification of certain expenses and gifts.
At the same time, a preliminary investigation opened by the Marseille prosecutor's office into charges of "favoritism", "embezzlement of public funds" and "concealment" is still underway.
Dissolution of the GIP or not, this will not change anything in the investigations carried out by the Toulon judicial police.