Strasbourg council reorganizes executive roles

The Strasbourg municipal council on Monday, November 2, discussed the reorganization of its executive branch following the departure of Pernelle Richardot, who was elected as a senator. Catherine Trautmann proposed abolishing her position and reducing the number of deputy mayors to 19, redistributing responsibilities among existing officials.

New roles assigned to deputy mayors

Mathieu Cahn took over responsibilities related to the city's attractiveness and influence, Paul Meyer assumed roles in commerce and craftsmanship, and Émilien Keller was assigned neighborhoods of Neuhof, Ganzau, and Stockfeld. This reorganization faced criticism from Germain Mignot (PCF), who called the decision last-minute and questioned the concentration of responsibilities among a few deputy mayors.

Debate over deputy mayor workload

Jean-Philippe Vetter (Les Républicains) argued that commerce and craftsmanship required a full-time deputy mayor, citing the workload of Paul Meyer. In the majority, Pierre Jakubowicz (Horizons) defended the reorganization, emphasizing strong political leadership and the competence of the elected officials. Catherine Trautmann defended her decision, stating she aimed to delegate responsibilities rather than relegate them.

Discussion on political campaign against veiled woman

The discussion then turned to the departure of Pernelle Richardot, with Florian Kobryn accusing the majority of not condemning the political campaign against an individual wearing a veil. Rebecca Breitman (centrist) and others from the majority denounced these accusations as Islamophobic and insulting to elected officials.

Response to accusations of Islamophobia

Kobryn requested a second round of speech to defend the term "Islamophobic," asking how to characterize a political campaign targeting a person wearing a veil. Jeanne Barseghian (Les Écologistes) expressed shock that the majority had not condemned the remarks targeting the Strasbourg woman in the campaign. Catherine Trautmann responded by stating she would not revisit the campaign and emphasized her commitment to decent places of worship for Muslims.

Proposed reform of paid parking on the road

The council then examined the second part of the reform of paid parking on the road, proposed by Landdry Augier de Lajallet. The reform included free first thirty minutes for each vehicle, once per day, regardless of the zone, with the maximum parking duration unchanged.

Financial impact and criticism of parking reform

The majority intended to simplify pricing grids and lower prices for durations up to 1h30. About forty new violet parking spots would be created around the Grande Île. The reform, set to take effect on January 4, 2027, would remove about 500,000 euros per year from the municipality's revenue, adding to a previous decrease in monthly passes. Jeanne Barseghian criticized the measure, citing the recent heatwave and increased mortality, and questioned the consistency of the majority's financial claims.

Diverging opinions on parking reform

Florian Kobryn (LFI) called the measure archaic, while Mohamed Siaaliti (right-wing) welcomed the facilitation of quick stops but felt it did not sufficiently address commercial needs.

Council discusses subsidies to FestiGays

The council also discussed subsidies to FestiGays, the association organizing the March of Visibility, following an inter-association call demanding the resignation of the board of directors due to reports of racism and internal dysfunctions. Mathieu Cahn, the socialist first deputy mayor, called for factual elements rather than council intervention, while Catherine Trautmann expressed willingness to investigate if facts were established.

Report on alleged misconduct at FestiGays

Florian Kobryn indicated he had already made a report under Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Unanswered questions on emergency housing

Unanswered questions arose regarding emergency housing places under the Territorial Accommodation and Integration Contract, with Floriane Varieras and Halima Meneceur questioning the locations and social accompaniment of the 300 housing places and the solutions for the Krimmeri camp.

Subsidies to private schools under scrutiny

The council also re-examined subsidies to private schools, with Florian Kobryn criticizing the funding while the city faced financial challenges. Céline Geissmann, deputy mayor in charge of schools, explained that the city's participation in private school funding was mandated by law but retained decision-making power on optional aids.

Motion against racism and religious hatred

A motion against racism and religious hatred, presented by Étienne Loos and Marie-Noëlle Gandzion, sparked debate. Halima Meneceur (LFI) criticized the motion for not explicitly naming "Islamophobia and Negrophobia," while Catherine Trautmann preferred the term "anti-Muslim hatred," arguing that "Islamophobia" fosters confusion between fear of Islam and hatred of Muslim people.

Ecologists abstain, insoumise councilors oppose

The Ecologists did not participate in the vote, and the insoumise councilors voted against the motion.