2023-12-18 14:14:00
This Tuesday, the PS-Ecolo college will present its 2024 budget to the entire municipal council, that is to say its estimate of revenue and expenditure which should occur during the course of next year. To allow advisors to read it in advance, ask their questions and explore certain points in greater depth, particularly from a more technical point of view, a “full budget committee” was planned last Thursday, at 6 p.m.
However, it appears that everything did not go as planned. “The budget alderwoman, Mélanie Ouali (PS), was in an advanced state of intoxication,” we are told. “We didn’t understand it right away, but then there was no longer a shadow of a doubt. His speech was incoherent, his behavior almost disturbing.” The municipal councilors but also the general directors of the intermunicipal associations attended the scene, since the activity reports also had to be presented.
”Not all the questions might be asked and in any case, the alderman was not able to provide answers. Several elected officials left the session.” The commission was therefore shortened and reconvened this Monday evening. “This also means that attendance fees will be paid twice. This is a significant expense for the city, which everyone would have done well without!”
A discussion between the alderwoman and the mayor
This Monday, the mayor of Mons, Nicolas Martin (PS) confirmed that the commission had gone badly. “I am not present since it is chaired by the alderman but the facts quickly came back to me on Thursday evening,” he explains. “I am not a doctor, I do not know the nature of the problem but the result is there and this is not acceptable. I expect professional and impeccable behavior from everyone. Which was not the case on Thursday evening.”
The mayor spoke with the alderwoman the day following the events. “She has a health problem that requires treatment. She saw her doctor and was stopped permanently, for at least three months, until she might get back on her feet.” Until then, the skills that fell to Mélanie Ouali have been redistributed within the college. Nicolas Martin will take over finances in his portfolio, Achile Sakas will take over sports while Marie Meunier will inherit associations and patriotic movements.
Stéphane Bernard, Mons alderman, would be the subject of a complaint for sexual assault: “I firmly deny it, it is a political cabal”
“It doesn’t just affect the majority”
Mélanie Ouali’s absence might be extended depending on her state of health. “I wish him a speedy recovery but I insist that these difficulties must not happen once more. And this also applies to all elected officials, including municipal councilors because this is not the first time that we have been confronted with the problem, which does not only affect the majority.”
And remember that some municipal councilors are not always exemplary in this area. “This is behavior that is unacceptable.” The commission was rescheduled by Nicolas Martin this Monday so that everyone can ask their questions. In a voluntary approach, municipal councilors will be asked to waive their attendance fee by not signing the attendance register in order to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Less than a year before the next electoral deadline, we imagine that the Mons municipal college and more generally the city would have done without this incident which tarnishes its image.
Georges-Louis Bouchez (Mons en Mieux) believes that we must “go further”
This Monday, upon learning of the temporary ousting of the alderwoman, Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of Mons en Mieux, felt that it was necessary to go further. “I think this fact is symptomatic of a majority that is doing badly,” he believes. “We consider here that this is a one-off problem when that is not the case. This demonstrates a lack of seriousness and sense of responsibility because it incites anti-politics. What should people think? If you arrive drunk at your workplace, this is a serious offense. We are not expecting a redistribution of skills but a definitive reshuffle within the municipal college.”
And to continue: “The city’s finances are in bad shape and we allow ourselves to have a budget alderman who arrives in committee in such a state. We cannot accept this, this cannot be tolerated. Because if the alderwoman is absent for three months, it is not due to a political decision but obviously to a medical decision. Should we not consider that trust has been broken? The mayor must take his responsibilities, without trying to wet everyone by bringing up possible other cases and smearing others.”
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