This evening in September 2021 was intended to be historic.
At the end of a long visit, the President of the Republic took his place at the foot of the majestic Palais du Pharo, with, behind him, a breathtaking view of the Old Port.
A postcard setting to announce the release of 1.5 billion euros from the State for Marseille.
Wasn't the violent downpour that fell on Emmanuel Macron at the time of these announcements premonitory?
Two and a half years later, the Marseille plan is in serious danger of failing.
In a report revealed by
Marsactu
, the Court of Auditors and the regional chamber of accounts scrutinize this plan desired by the Head of State.
This document is still only provisional, but the findings of the financial magistrates are severe.
According to them, this plan would not be accompanied by any framework allowing clear objectives to be set.
The text also points to the absence of a precise timetable and insufficient human resources.
Since last December only, a single sub-prefect has been appointed to monitor the implementation of the plan
.
“The plan is progressing at a good pace and on time, particularly on security, health and the large port,”
tempers the Élysée.
“The communities and the State do everything on their side, without transparency and without consulting the collectives and associations concerned,”
accuses the LFI deputy for the northern districts Sébastien Delogu, who filed this Tuesday a request for a parliamentary investigation into the Marseille plan in big.
Who does what with what money in this story?
In a city plagued by cronyism, the people of Marseillais have the right to know.
»
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“The task is enormous”
“This is not true,”
defends Secretary of State Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, responsible for monitoring this plan for the State, who however specifies that she has
“not been a recipient”
to date of the provisional version. of this report.
For her, the framework is set by theme, in the public companies created for this purpose.
“I consider that the contractualization between the State and the communities also works by theme, like the company which manages the renovation of schools.
»
On this theme, the minister's entourage deplores to Le
Figaro
the slowness of the town hall, which highlights its record in the matter, recalling that 15 schools will be delivered this year.
“There are 188 to do,”
recalls an advisor to Sabrina Agresti-Roubache.
It's not going as quickly as we would like, but we are aware of the difficulties inherent in building all these schools.
The task is daunting.
»
They only used a fifth of the budget in this area.
The budget lines expire in 2026, because they are credits without the possibility of extension.
Do you think they will have everything finished by then?
Sébastien Delogu, LFI deputy
Delays are also piling up on the housing front.
“They only used a fifth of the budget in this area,”
worries Sébastien Delogu.
The budget lines expire in 2026, because they are credits without the possibility of extension.
Do you think they will have everything finished by then?
»
There remains uncertainty regarding the financing of the plan, and in particular its second phase.
Last June, Emmanuel Macron announced the granting of an additional 250 million euros to develop transport.
But eight months later, communities are still waiting.
“The credits are provided for in the workload plan of the French Transport Infrastructure Financing Agency,”
assures Sabrina Agresti-Roubache.
Funding is indicated, credits available.
The State's commitment will be kept.
»
Annoying method
We still need to find a political consensus on the issues.
This Thursday, a progress update on the progress of public transport projects was held in the presence of the Secretary of State, eighteen months after the previous one.
If smiles were required in front of the cameras, at the exit, in front of the journalists, Benoît Payan and his entourage were quite annoyed by the method.
The mayor of Marseille thus explained that he learned during this meeting of the future public transport projects that his former opponent in the municipal elections, LR Martine Vassal, competent as president of the metropolis, intends to have financed by the State in the second phase of the plan.
A lack of upstream consultation assumed by Martine Vassal who, in a recent interview with Le
Figaro
, explains
“setting a course”
and then settling the details with the mayor.
Proof that the end of the
“chicayas”
between these two, already demanded by Emmanuel Macron in 2021, is wishful thinking.
And this, not without consequences.
It took several years to reach an agreement on the route of the future tramway in the northern districts.
“Martine Vassal and Benoît Payan are great people,
” curses Sabrina Agresti-Roubache.
They can pick up their phones and talk to each other about plans.
»
Bad coincidence of timing: on the day of this meeting, one of the only two metro lines in Marseille was down for a large part of the day.