Marseille’s Budget Annulled: Administrative Court Ruling Exposes Irregularities
Introduction
The Administrative Court of Marseille has ruled in favor of the opposition group "Une Volonté pour Marseille" and annulled the vote on the 2024 budget orientations report of the Marseille City Council, led by former Socialist Benoît Payan. The court found that the report lacked essential elements for the meaningful expression of elected officials during the budget vote.
Court’s Ruling
According to the court’s decision, the budget orientations report "did not contain the necessary elements for elected officials to express a relevant opinion on the budgetary orientations of the municipality prior to the vote on the initial budget." The court held that elected officials "could not have a clear vision of the volume of investment expenditures and the programming of the municipality’s multi-year commitments."
In a press release, the Administrative Court noted "an irregularity in the budget adoption procedure due to the insufficient content of the budget orientations report." The court emphasized that "these deficiencies deprived elected officials of the necessary information in a timely manner and undermined their guarantee."
Rapporteur Public’s Findings
In previous conclusions, the public rapporteur had already identified "gaps" in the budget orientations report. However, the Marseille City Council’s lawyer, Me Jorge Mendes Constante, argued that the missing information was contained in a separate document, the Marseille Investment Plan, which had been approved.
Opposition Group’s Reaction
The opposition group "Une Volonté pour Marseille" welcomed the court’s decision as a sign of "a fractured administration without a clear direction."
Catherine Pila, president of the opposition group, stated, "This cancellation is not anecdotal, as claimed by Benoît Payan’s elected officials, but highly significant. It exposes an administration marred by amateurism."
City Council’s Response
Me Mendes Constante expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, calling it "exaggerated." He indicated that the city council is considering an appeal.
Implications
The court’s ruling has serious implications for the Marseille City Council. It marks the second time that the Administrative Court has annulled the city’s budget, raising concerns about the current administration’s management.
The opposition group "Une Volonté pour Marseille" has vowed to continue criticizing the city council’s shortcomings and errors.
Conclusion
The Administrative Court’s decision to annul the Marseille City Council’s budget orientations report is a setback for the Payan administration. It highlights the need for adherence to proper procedures and transparency in budget planning. The ruling also provides an opportunity for the opposition to challenge the city council’s governance and demand improved management of public funds.
