As a result of the political crisis hitting Mantes-la-Jolie (Yvelines), the largest urban community in France is changing its face. Since this Thursday, it is now Cécile Zammit-Popescu, the mayor (DVD) of Meulan-en-Yvelines who leads the GPS&O, a “monster” of 73 municipalities which extends from Bonnières-sur-Seine to Conflans-Sainte – Honorine.
She thus succeeds Raphaël Cognet, the former mayor (LR) of Mantes-la-Jolie who resigned on January 8 following disagreements with Pierre Bédier (LR), the president of the departmental council and elected still influential in Mantois .
At 51, this “woman of authority and humanity”, in the words of a relative, will lead a liner which has 129 elected representatives representing more than 400,000 inhabitants. It should contrast with the style of its predecessor with easy familiarity and a relaxed approach. “Cécile isn’t necessarily an extroverted person, but she’s a hard worker, a committed worker. It is unanimous,” says Karl Olive, mayor (DVD) of Poissy.
A big urban community and big challenges
Doctor in archeology, this mother of a family very quickly proved herself in politics. In 2014, she ended twenty years of socialist management by becoming the mayor of Meulan-en-Yvelines. Her little feat did not escape Pierre Bédier, outgoing president of the departmental council, who convinced her to be a candidate in the 2015 departmental elections. There too, she ended up commanding respect. “If the departmental majority managed the grand slam that year, it was largely thanks to her, abounds Karl Olive. This canton was far from being won. And she succeeded. »
Proof of her local presence, she was re-elected in the first round of the municipal elections of 2020 and confirmed her seat as departmental councilor in June 2021. Her election as head of GPS&O finally crowns a linear ascent and a smooth career that she will however have to face the harsh reality of this urban community.
Major projects await him, in particular the increase in taxation which awaits the inhabitants of the Seine valley or the application of the local inter-municipal urban plan. He will also have to reconcile some of the mayors of rural areas, who are upset once morest the bureaucratic functioning and the remoteness of GPS&O from the daily life of the inhabitants. “She is a respected worker, analyzes Eddie Aït, mayor (SE) of Carrières-sous-Poissy. But she must take the measure of the task that awaits her. The governance of GPS&O, the finances… The work to come is enormous. »