The Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area has been grappling with a significant budgetary crisis for several months. On September 10, the region failed to approve a balanced budget by just one vote, marking a critical moment in its financial challenges. Nicolas Lisnard, the president of the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area from the LR (Les Républicains) party, has stated that, like all series, there will be an end to these financial difficulties. The EPCI (Établissement Public de Coopération Intercommunale), which manages the region’s finances, faces a 144 million euro deficit for the 2026 budget, with 53 million euros still unaccounted for. A revised budget plan will be presented on October 15, aiming to maintain funding for the 98 communes without raising taxes for the 1.8 million residents. To achieve this, Lisnard has announced a shift in revenue strategy, including the end of free public transport in the area. The Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area was established in 2016 through the merger of six smaller intercommunalities. This process was met with resistance from local mayors, who were concerned about losing control over local decision-making. The metropolis now oversees several key services, such as public transport, road maintenance, and waste collection, which have often been sources of conflict between cities and officials. Governance has been marked by political tensions, especially between the previous president, Martine Vassal (LR), and the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan (DVG), a rivalry that was criticized by President Emmanuel Macron as "local chicayas," a term used to describe petty or unnecessary local conflicts. In 2026, after Martine Vassal lost the municipal elections, Nicolas Lisnard, the mayor of Salon-de-Provence, took over leadership of the metropolis, promising a more collaborative governance model that would serve the mayors rather than override them. However, the financial situation quickly worsened when a 123 million euro deficit was discovered, later revised to 144 million euros. Elected officials refused to approve the budget, citing reduced state funding and a desire to avoid increasing property taxes by 150 to 200 euros. Without a budget, the metropolis was placed under the supervision of the prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhône, which referred the issue to the Regional Chamber of Accounts (CRC). The CRC recommended 91 million euros in savings and a 53 million euro reduction in the community solidarity grant (DSC), which the prefect approved, though he opted to preserve the DSC and cut another grant instead. To address the crisis, Lisnard’s administration proposed a compromise: reducing the DSC but compensating with investment aid. This plan was put to a vote on September 10, with 72 mayors supporting it in an open letter. However, the budget failed by one vote, with Benoît Payan and 67 members of the Marseille Spring, as well as thirteen other left-wing members, voting against it. The 38 members of the National Rally voted in favor instead of abstaining. The left criticized the agreement as "scandalous," with Payan calling it an "unacceptable choice" that would cost Marseille 36 million euros. Lisnard expressed disappointment that the plan, supported by nearly all mayors, was blocked by just a few communes. He emphasized that dialogue with Marseille remains open, acknowledging that disagreements will persist among the 92 mayors, but he hopes for a resolution by mid-October. The decision to end free public transport, expected to save 15 million euros annually, has been rushed and could lead to frustration among some elected officials.