We know the former Prime Minister Jean Castex railroad, that is to say passionate about the railway world. Still, the ex-tenant of Matignon would undoubtedly have dreamed of a better context for his probable arrival at the head of the Autonomous Paris Transport Authority (RATP), wanted by Emmanuel Macron.
Shortage of drivers, which causes endless waits at bus stops and crowded metros, pressure from regional president (LR) Valérie Pécresse on the RATP, concerns about the transport plan for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, opening of the competition from the bus network in 2025 and, as a “welcome gift”, a day of strike which promises to be very popular on Thursday: the challenges awaiting the future boss of the board, 70,000 employees, the world’s third largest transport operator urban, are very numerous.
“I don’t underestimate them at all. It’s not meant to discourage me. If I dared, I would say that it spurred me on, ”said Jean Castex bravely before the Senate’s regional planning committee, which auditioned him this Tuesday evening before a second big oral this Wednesday morning. before the same committee of the National Assembly. His appointment could be blocked if 3/5th of the parliamentarians concerned vote against, which would be a big surprise.
He promises to take into account the opinion of the HATVP
While recognizing Jean Castex’s “skills and appetite” for the post, the senators nevertheless grilled him on several occasions about the reservations made by the High Authority for the transparency of public life (HATVP) . Without opposing his appointment, the institution, created in 2013 after the Cahuzac affair, “asked him to refrain from any approach to his former government team for three years”, in the name of the fight against conflicts. of interests. A ban for the less comical, since it would concern Élisabeth Borne at Matignon or the Minister of Transport, Clément Beaune.
On this point, Jean Castex wanted to be reassuring, explaining that he too was “worried” about these observations and therefore asked for clarification from the president of the HATVP in person, Didier Migaud, who replied to him by mail. “I specify that these restrictions apply only to the subject of the opening of Parisian public transport to competition, underlined the former head of government. I will therefore be able to address the Minister of the Interior on security issues, the Minister of the Economy on energy prices or wage negotiations, I will be entirely in accordance with the opinion of the HATVP. »
“A well-oiled post waltz”
Jean Castex also specifies that the procedures for opening up to competition will be the responsibility of Île-de-France Mobilités and the president of the region, whom he has undertaken to meet as soon as possible. “It is not my former government colleagues who will have to make these choices,” he assured. An argument which, however, does not convince the Federal Secretary FO Transport Jean-Christophe Delprat. “What will the German or Italian competitors say when they lose a market to the RATP? There could be a hint of favoritism. This poses a legal risk to the company, which worries us for the future. »
During this first great oral, the senators also several times referred Jean Castex to accusations of “recasing” former ministers and followers of Emmanuel Macron. “A well-oiled and very useful post waltz at the start of the five-year term”, thus slammed the socialist senator Joël Bigot. “The message sent by the President of the Republic will help to further distance our fellow citizens from public affairs”, also worried Senator LR Didier Mandelli.
On this point, the candidate Castex, who had been chosen in mid-August to chair the Agency for Financing Transport Infrastructure in France, defended himself from any recasing. “My goal is not to seek a position or an honor, it is to be useful, he assured. I am not looking to be resettled. Usually, we relocate to sinecures, I’m not quite sure we’re on the subject…”