Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region criticized for communication expenses in favor of Laurent Wauquiez
The communication practices of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, under the presidency of Laurent Wauquiez, are the subject of strong criticism in a report from the Regional Audit Office (CRC), included on the agenda of the plenary assembly this Thursday. This report highlights expenses deemed excessive and a lack of transparency, particularly around the personality of the former president of the region.
Among the most notable facts, a dinner worth more than 1.200 euros between Laurent Wauquiez and the writer Michel Houellebecq had already caused a lot of ink to flow when it was revealed by the regional press in August, in the middle of the Olympic Games. Wauquiez, who has since left the regional presidency due to the rules on the non-accumulation of mandates, had claimed not to know the amount of the bill and had said he was ready to reimburse the excess sum.
The CRC report singles out in particular communication costs largely concentrated on the promotion of Laurent Wauquiez, a potential right-wing candidate in the 2027 presidential election. The chamber warns against expenses that seem to be motivated more by personal interests than by institutional needs. It recommends that the communication strategy be submitted to the regional council for greater transparency.
The current president of the region, Fabrice Pannekoucke (LR), defended his administration by stating that less than 5% of communication expenditures put the president forward. However, Johann Cesa, vice-president of the socialist group, deplores that the report is not discussed in more depth, with only two minutes allocated to debate it in plenary assembly.
Rising expenses
The CRC report also highlights a notable increase in catering costs, from €22.718 in 2019 to €77.180 in 2022. Fifteen meals were examined in detail, including two dinners with Michel Houellebecq, billed at €1.248 and €900 respectively, as well as a controversial lunch for six people, including three journalists from Current values, for a sum of 5.100 euros according to the CRC, compared to less than 2.000 euros depending on the region.
The report also criticizes the purchase of opinion studies with political connotations, including a survey conducted after Wauquiez spoke on BFMTV in 2021, in the middle of the regional election campaign. This survey, which focused on the image of the president of the regional council, served personal political interests more than a genuine local public interest, according to the CRC.
Investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office
The report also looks back at the organization of the Summit Dinner, an event organized in June 2022 and financed by the region, which cost taxpayers dearly. This evening, which brought together around a hundred guests, is now the subject of an investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office.
In its response, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, now headed by Fabrice Pannekoucke, vigorously contests the conclusions of the report, claiming that the CRC made material and legal errors. The region also accuses the chamber of ignoring certain documents transmitted in advance and denounces a tone of unfounded suspicions.