On the occasion of her visit to Rodez, Wednesday May 27, 2026, the president of the Occitanie region Carole Delga and Stéphane Mazars renewed the dialogue which was until now rather difficult under the previous municipal team.
Until now, relations between the mayor of Rodez and the president of the Occitanie region were rather tense and difficult. Even “aggressive”, according to Carole Delga who herself highlighted this during her visit to Rodez, yesterday morning before going to the site of the former SAM factory in Viviez. The City and the Region agree on several issues and there is no shortage of challenges for close collaboration between the two communities.
During your visit to Aveyron, you met the mayor of Rodez Stéphane Mazars, then the president of the Department Arnaud Viala. What were the topics of discussion?
With Stéphane Mazars, we have known each other since he was a senator then a deputy, we always maintain a respectful, constructive dialogue. We mainly talked about the different development projects in Rodez and the surrounding area. Because it is necessary for the Region and the intercommunity to work together, there is a dynamic on these subjects. We also addressed the issue of the Bosch site, the need to maintain employment and continue production, while encouraging the establishment of other companies on the site.
Are you worried about the future of the Bosch factory in Onet-le-Château?
I think that Bosch will keep a location in Rodez, but it is also necessary to establish partnerships with other companies. We are in contact with aeronautics subcontractors. And then there is a lot of work to be done on diversification and industrial transition. We absolutely must allow the region’s industry to remain strong, but also to transform, that’s key.
Culture was also at the heart of your discussions, as was mobility and the airport. It is also a driving force for Rodez.
Of course, we talked about the Soulages museum. It’s true that it has a real power of appeal at the international level, and that’s remarkable for a city like Rodez. We also discussed the Estivada, which remains an essential event for Occitan culture. Overall, there are many promising projects, and the Region wants to continue to support this cultural excitement.
At the bus station, intermodality… Frankly, coordination between all modes of transport is not satisfactory for me. We must advance the interconnection between bus and train, and work with neighboring municipalities, particularly to serve Ruthenians. We talked about the regularity of TER trains and bus-rail complementarity: this must move forward. We also talked about Rodez airport, which remains essential. And the RN88 axis, which structures the entire sector. We financed or supported a lot of joint infrastructure, such as the university center or the boarding school for doctors.
So the dialogue seems to be renewed with the Ruthenian municipality?
Yes, it’s obvious! Before, the former mayor of Rodez was always in opposition, in a form of aggression towards the Region. Despite everything, we managed to move forward, because the economic and associative world of Aveyron has always demonstrated a spirit of responsibility. There were many actors mobilized.
With President Viala, yesterday morning, we took up in detail issues such as the RN88 or the airport, now that the State only finances 35% instead of 55%. But we can complete the envelope, we just have to remain vigilant about the explosion in costs. We also talked about the university projects included in the State-Region Plan Contract, on which the Department shares our vision. Everything happened constructively.
Concretely, at Rodez-Aveyron airport, will the Region be able to provide financial support?
We work together to prepare a precise budget projection on operations and investment because there is work to be done. We also have experience of managing Carcassonne, Tarbes and Perpignan airports. We offered our skills and our teams to the Department for expertise, quite simply because we know how to manage these infrastructures.
Concerning the release of your book “When Vichy judged Léon Blum” and the arrival for your dedication, Tuesday May 26 at the Maison du livre, in the current context, what particular meaning does this publication take?
I wanted to write this book for three reasons. First, to make known the political testament of Léon Blum, which is a text of burning topicality in its humanism. If we were to read only one page of my book, it would be page 167 with this message from Blum at the gates of Buchenwald – an example of self-sacrifice and trust in humanity. Then, because the manipulation of the truth by totalitarian or extremist regimes remains current. Finally, for a more personal reason: I I myself was the victim of a manipulation of the truth by the Court of Appeal of Nîmes After seven years of proceedings, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in my favor, the judgment was annulled. we are sincere, honest, we respect the law, we end up obtaining justice.
The 2027 presidential election is approaching, will the left be heard for this meeting?
I defend a left that places work, emancipation and investment in education and health. Not the left of chaos nor the one that wants to oppose everything. I like a constructive, demanding left. This is why I support Raphaël Glucksmann’s project. Is it audible? I believe so, more and more. Raphaël was again last night on France 2, on France Inter; his book comes out today. The left of responsibility is gaining voice, and it is up to us to speak loudly with conviction, to bring together, not to divide.
