The day after the installation of the new council of Agglo Béziers Méditerranée, Frédéric Lacas, the mayor of Sérignan, one of the six towns excluded from the executive, denounces a “denial of democracy.”
He had prepared a speech. He decided not to deliver it. Frédéric Lacas, the mayor of Sérignan, remains bitter on Wednesday, April 8, following the installation session of the council of Agglo Béziers Méditerranée (CABM). His town, along with 5 of the 17 in the area (Lieuran-lès-Béziers, Boujan-sur-Libron, Sauvian, Espondeilhan, and Valros), are excluded from the executive, which is where the community issues are discussed.
“For this Agglo election, I met with Robert Ménard again on April 1st. For me, this meeting was about openness and appeasement to turn the pages and move forward together. My goal remains the same: to work with respect for everyone, the towns, and the choices expressed by their residents,” he emphasizes.
“All mayors were chosen by universal suffrage,” he notes. “If the mayor of Béziers was widely elected in his town, giving him legitimacy in his role, it must be remembered that the community election is based on local elected officials, called ‘grand electors.’ All mayors were chosen by universal suffrage by their populations. As such, they must be considered fully legitimate, equal within the executive of our Béziers living area. Even if there are disagreements, can a President of the Agglomeration allow for the exclusion, even indirectly, of residents due to differences with their mayors?” he questions.
The dispute initiated by the town of Sérignan against a decision made by CABM regarding urban planning and land use for the coming years is at the heart of the conflict. But on this matter, Frédéric Lacas refused to give in.
“Beyond these disagreements, important and concrete issues remain,” he says. Especially concerning transportation, the port, and access to healthcare. “I deeply regret the possible consequences for the residents of Sérignan who have entrusted me with their confidence. Undermining the fundamental principles of democracy and universal suffrage cannot be considered republican. Such a stance resembles a form of autocracy, incompatible with the spirit that should guide a responsible and supportive intermunicipal entity,” he concludes.
Robert Ménard will not reconsider the vice presidencies and the composition of the board of Agglo Béziers Méditerranée: “There were votes, it’s done. We have started working. As for Frédéric Lacas, he should not have engaged in this process. You cannot be in the executive while contesting a decision of the Agglomeration. I told him this,” he stated.
Source: The content is a news article about Frédéric Lacas, mayor of Sérignan, expressing discontent after being excluded from the executive board of Agglo Béziers Méditerranée and raising concerns about the democratic process.
