Philippe Marchesi, deputy mayor of Montfrin, defeated Louis Donnet, mayor of Domazan.
It was an unusual request that marked the beginning of the Pont du Gard community council installation session on Wednesday, April 8th in Fournès. When Marin Grasset, the eldest member, was about to proceed with the election of the president and asked the candidates to declare themselves, Anthony Vertaure, the newly elected mayor of Saint-Hilaire d’Ozilhan, spoke up. He expressed his concerns, stating, “I would have liked, before this election, for us all to come together around the table. Because I don’t know half of the people present and I do not fully understand all the issues of the CCPG, which is already divided.”
His comments were supported by another new mayor, Raoul Albisser from Saint-Bonnet-du-Gard.
Suspension of Session
Thierry Astier, mayor of Pouzilhac, interpreted this as a call for all elected officials to come together before the election.
This left some officials puzzled. Some felt it was not the right time. Thierry Boudinaud, mayor of Fournès, reminded Anthony Vertaure that he had proposed a “time for discussion to clarify the issues of the CCPG.”
Ultimately, after consulting the general services director, the council agreed to this request. A 15-minute break was granted, during which most officials left the room to discuss among themselves.
Two Presidential Candidates
Upon return, the election of the president began with two candidates: Philippe Marchesi, deputy mayor of Montfrin and president of PETR Uzège Pont du Gard, and Louis Donnet, mayor of Domazan. Each candidate presented their program, which shared similar priorities (employment, economic dynamism, tourism, housing, ecological transition). Both acknowledged that the CCPG was at a crucial juncture.
Indeed, the CCPG has faced financial challenges since the closure of the Aramon thermal power plant. Louis Donnet emphasized the need for a new governance structure, while Philippe Marchesi stressed the importance of unity and a common identity.
The votes were more influenced by personalities rather than the similar programs. Philippe Marchesi was elected with 20 votes, succeeding Pierre Prat, while Louis Donnet received 11 votes.
This division was reflected in the scores of the six deputy mayors. Philippe Marchesi decided to defer the election of the three other deputies and the five members of the bureau for a future meeting to allow time for consultation.
The six deputy mayors are Pascale Prat from Aramon, Thierry Boudinaud from Fournès, Fabrice Fournier from Meynes, Laurence Trapier from Valliguières, Murielle Garcia-Favand from Théziers, and Marc Zammit from Comps.
The election of the other deputies will take place at a later session.
