The prefect of the Gironde department has ordered Pierre Hurmic to remove the banners criticizing the budget bill, failing which “legal action will be taken by the State”.
It’s a real tug-of-war between the Mayor of Bordeaux and the Prefect of Gironde. Last week, the city’s ecologist mayor, Pierre Hurmichad two banners installed on the façade of the Palais Rohan, to protest against the “budget cuts by the State. Criticized by his opposition, he refuses to withdraw them, despite a threat from the prefecture to take the matter to court.
“The State is cutting Bordeaux’s municipal budget by 16.5 million euros, where do we get it from?”asks the first banner posted on the building this week. “Would you rather deprive all pupils of the canteen or abolish the municipal police? Do you think that’s absurd? So do we.”replies the second, calling out to the inhabitants. The Finance Bill (PLF) 2025 provides for local authorities to contribute several billion euros to the savings called for by Barnier government.
Invoking a “principle of neutrality of public services having “constitutional value, the Prefect of Gironde, Étienne Guyotasked the mayor of “to comply with the law as soon as possible”.otherwise “legal action would be taken by the State”.. The prefect relies on Conseil d’État case law, according to which this principle “precludes the display on public buildings of signs symbolizing political, religious or philosophical opinions”..
“Respecting the freedom of expression of elected representatives”
But according to the municipal executive, this is not the case. The mayor “was keen to inform the Bordeaux population of the budget cuts that are currently threatening the funding and continuity of public services”.stating that “this information is of obvious local public interest”.. “Not content with draining our financial resources to pay off its abysmal deficit, the State is now demanding our resignation.”Pierre Hurmic retorts curtly.
The Bordeaux mayor now invites the prefect to “respect the freedom of expression of local councillors, who are increasingly mobilizing against the impact of the PLF, across the political spectrum”.. Throughout France, many local authorities have already expressed their concern. On Thursday, several dozen local councillors, including the mayor of Toulouse Jean-Luc Moudenc (ex-Les Républicains), mobilized in front of the Haute-Garonne prefecture to send a message of solidarity and solidarity. “message of anger.