LGV Bordeaux-Toulouse: the president of Lot-et-Garonne remains firm before elected officials
This Friday morning, in the standing committee, the president of Lot-et-Garonne reaffirmed her desire not to participate in the financing of the LGV before elected officials. She would however be ready to exchange during a round table with the State, the Regional Council and the agglomeration of Agen if this meeting is requested by the Prime Minister.
The unrest continues behind the scenes. Yesterday, in the standing committee – they are still behind closed doors – the elected representatives of the departmental council could not avoid the thorny debate on the LGV that the declarations of Prime Minister Jean Castex in our columns revived. Pierre Chollet, on behalf of 100% Lot-et-Garonne, the opposition group, asked the president of the departmental council if she considered the presence of a new station in Agen to be essential. Sophie Borderie replied in the affirmative. She even considers that Agen already has its ticket since Lot-et-Garonne has been financed for more than 33 million euros for the Tours-Bordeaux route.
On the financing plan, the president remained firm before the elected officials: she does not wish to change a strategy on which she has already presented herself for a long time. She does not want to participate in the GPSO financing company which will be created a priori in mid-February. It would however be ready to exchange during a round table with the State, the Regional Council and the agglomeration of Agen if this meeting is requested by Prime Minister Jean Castex.
On Friday, February 11, the budget orientation debate session will take place. For 100% Lot-et-Garonne, this will be an opportunity to plead for a possible financial contribution. The Majority has already made a strong argument. Financing the LGV would imply renouncing other investments, even if the budgetary situation is not bad in the short term. Furthermore, the Department notes that the Agglo d’Agen invested €27 million in the LGV (€9 for Bordeaux-Tours and €18 million for Bordeaux-Toulouse). He put 33 M€ for Tours-Bordeaux.