After the motion of censure which overthrew the government, these Gardois are faced with political instability

Les agriculteurs, dans le flou, envisagent de mener une action interdépartementale. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

La motion de censure a apporté une instabilité politique passagère. Dans le Gard, des habitants, des représentants de certains secteurs économiques, attendent une sortie de crise.

The motion of censure on Wednesday, December 4, which led to the resignation of the Barnier government, raised concerns among economic players in Gard, while also giving rise to hope among some. An expected and feared scenario that plunges the sectors of activity into uncertainty.

Romain Angelras (president of the Young Farmers of Gard)

Romain Angelras (young farmers, left), shares “his very big concern”. Midi Libre – MIKAËL ANISSET

Despite a national call from the FDSEA and the Young Farmers, there will be no action by these unions on December 9 and 10 in the Gard, the motion of censure and the overthrow of the Barnier government have passed by! Aid and measures are no longer relevant (reform of the calculation of retirement pensions, tax and social benefits).

“We are waiting and very worried”, confides Romain Angelras, president of the JA du Gard. The farmers have visited all the administrations and several supermarkets in Nîmes in recent weeks.

The mobilization seems to be put on hold these days, to start again better ? We could be heading towards an interdepartmental demonstration. “The situation has gotten worse since last January. The change of government is the second time that we've been hit like this,” says Romain Angelras, dejected.

Anger remains all the stronger after the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union of December 6, even if this is not highlighted in the Gard. Farmers want President Macron to quickly resolve a very complicated situation.

Rémi Nicolas (Mayor of Marguerittes, Community and Departmental Councillor)

Rémi Nicolas, Mayor of Marguerittes, Departmental and Community Councillor, will have to postpone projects. Midi Libre – C. M.

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Mayor of Marguerittes, Community and Departmental Councillor, Rémi Nicolas knows his subject well when it comes to closing the budget of a local authority. The government's resignation challenges him: “The situation does not prevent us from preparing our budgets to be operational even if we do not know the budgetary orientations of the State with this political instability whether on taxation, compulsory expenditure.”

Even if the 2024 budget will probably be renewed given the urgency of the situation, questions arise for elected officials on green funds (ecological transition of territories) and those for VAT compensation. “The impact on the Department will be €9 million, for Marguerittes €100,000 minimum”, specifies Rémi Nicolas. The investment budget will drop in his municipality from €5 million to €4 million, which will further delay the rehabilitation of the Marguerittoise swimming pool. The mayor hopes that the political groups of the Republican arc will manage to reach an agreement quickly.

Christophe Bonnet (artisan painter, president of the Capeb du Gard)

Christophe Bonnet, artisan and president of the Capeb du Gard.

Christophe Bonnet, a painter and decorator in Sumène, president of the Capeb du Gard, confides that he no longer knows “which foot to dance on. We managed to renew the Prim Rénov for 2025 but after…” According to him, several companies in the construction industry have had to lay off employees in the Gard. For the craftsman, this instability began as soon as the dissolution of the National Assembly was announced.

Christophe Bonnet indicates, however, that the situation “is not alarming for the moment in the Gard. We know that it is very complicated for the new real estate market. But for small construction companies, there are still construction sites, full order books. In fact, we have the feeling of living on our reserves. But we feel that the year 2025 is going to be particularly hard because in the departments, there are going to be savings.” The president of the Capeb du Gard was able to speak with his counterparts during a videoconference this Friday, December 6.

Ludovic Tourdiat (real estate agency director)

Ludovic Tourdiat, director of a real estate agency, hopes to maintain a Ministry of Housing. Midi Libre – MIKAËL ANISSET

Ludovic Tourdiat from Nîmes, director of a real estate agency and regional president of UNIS (the leading organization of real estate professionals), was recently able to meet the Minister of Housing Valérie Létard, who may not be the same person in the next government. Political instability that does not help the real estate sector: “There is a loss of confidence that encourages consumers to say that it is urgent to wait before any real estate transaction.”

Interest rates are rising and sales are falling (800,000 over twelve rolling months in France, a figure that should still be reached in 2025): “Due to the context, the planets are not aligned between a seller who lowers the sale price of a property and the buyer who no longer has the financial capacity.”

Clearly, political instability should not last too long because the real estate sector needs answers to support private landlords, to postpone in 2028 the fact that any housing with an energy label G can no longer be rented. The measure must come into effect from January 1, 2025. “We must renew the Pinel law which allows, thanks to tax advantages, owners to invest because these are jobs created at the key”, also specifies Ludovic Tourdiat who hopes to maintain a Ministry of Housing.