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On the face of it, it was supposed to be a mere formality. But appearances are often deceiving. Particularly in politics, and even more so when it comes to the stakes of power within the Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy. On Tuesday June 3, the Territorial Council had just one item on its agenda: the allocation of the seat occupied by Romaric Magras on the Executive Council (EC) since March 2022 and the start of the mandate.
As the former leader of Saint-Barth d'Abord had resigned from the EC on March 7, the elected representatives had to decide whether and by whom to replace him. A successor had already been designated by Romaric Magras: Francius Matignon. Although Matignon will inherit the vacant seat and the title of second vice-president of the Collectivité, it was only after a meeting that went far beyond a mere formality.
"No counter agreement
A few minutes after President Xavier Lédée opened the proceedings, the elected representatives voted unanimously in favor of filling the vacant seat on the Executive Council. The chairman then announced that the texts provided for a one-hour break so that elected representatives could submit their candidacies if they so wished.
Alexandra Questel, new president of the Saint-Barth d'Abord (SBDA) group since the voluntary withdrawal of Romaric Magras, declared that SBDA would propose three candidates. She revealed their names an hour later. They are Francius Matignon, Rudi Laplace and Sandra Baptiste. Why three candidates? To force the Board to re-elect the entire Works Council. Spokeswoman for the Action-Équilibre group, Bettina Cointre warns: "We won't be putting forward any candidates, and we won't be making any counter deals."
Another hour's break passes. To kill time, Action-Équilibre councillors play dominoes. Other councillors stroll here and there around the Hôtel de la Collectivité, while laughter erupts from the presidential cabinet. The meeting resumed at 6.13pm.
Rudi Laplace takes the floor for a speech that is as muscular as it is moralistic. He called for an end to "rancor" and "sterile quarrels" unworthy of the Collectivité. Then, in a style that would not have displeased Bruno Retailleau, President of the Les Républicains party and Minister of the Interior, he declared: "It is urgent to re-establish order and stability."Another hour's break. 7.13pm, the meeting resumes.
An overhaul of the CE
Each group presents a list of names. A vote takes place seat by seat, from the first vice-president down to the second EC member. Marie-Hélène Bernier, who was absent and the only candidate for the first vice-presidency, was elected (10 votes in favor, nine abstentions). Maxime Desouches tried unsuccessfully to win the second vice-presidency from Francius Matignon. He received only eight votes to the SBDA candidate's ten. Marie-Angèle Aubin is elected third VP (11 votes to 8 for... Maxime Desouches), Alexandra Questel fourth VP (11 votes to 8 for... Maxime Desouches). After three unsuccessful attempts, Maxime Desouches, the only candidate for the seat of first EC member, was elected by a relative majority (9 votes in favor) after... three ballots. Finally, Bettina Cointre, the only candidate for the seat of second member, received 18 votes out of 19.
At first glance, the changes made do not seem decisive. However, they herald an upheaval in governance. Certainly, the Action-Équilibre group retains three seats on the executive board. Marie-Hélène Bernier has been diplomatically reappointed First Vice-President. But Bettina Cointre and Maxime Desouches are clearly demoted. In addition, the election of a new Executive Committee will lead to a redistribution of delegations of power by the President of the Collectivité. This is confirmed by Xavier Lédée.
An unstable balance
"Hélène Bernier, who chose to sue me (for defamation, editor's note), will not have a delegation, and Maxime Desouches, who chose to attack procedures, permits and deliberations, will not have a delegation.dures, permits and deliberations of the Collectivité", declared Xavier Lédée at the end of the meeting. Furthermore, as Bettina Cointre is no longer Vice-Chairwoman, she should not be entrusted with any delegated powers. On the other hand, Alexandra Questel and Francius Matignon will be joining the fray in earnest.
Alongside Xavier Lédée, a chairman whose decisions they have regularly and harshly criticized since the beginning of the mandate. Through acerbic comments and unvarnished attacks. A double-edged turnaround in the run-up to the territorial elections in March 2027.
The Action-Équilibre group has been dismissed as a troublemaker and an impediment to smooth government. As a result, it is now definitively in opposition. As for Saint-Barth d'Abord, whose group leader Alexandra Questel denies any alliance with Xavier Lédée, it will now have to find an inevitably unstable balance between the two groups.It will now have to find a balance, inevitably unstable, between the exercise of power and the disagreements previously expressed with the presidential team.
