New Council in Cahors: Vivien Coste Elected President

United on Tuesday, April 7th in Cahors (Lot), the elected officials of the community have installed their new council and elected Vivien Coste as president, with priorities focused on the economy, healthcare, and governance.

At a little after 2 PM on April 7th, the community members gathered at Espace Valentré in Cahors to inaugurate the new council of the Grand Cahors community. The session was expected to last into the evening, marked by the election of the president and the structuring of the intermunicipal executive.

“It is 2:09 PM, I would like, if possible, to ensure that this delay does not continue,” predicted Jean-Luc Marx, the outgoing president, at the start of a lengthy installation council due to the secret ballot voting for each member of the board.

“Grand Cahors Has Made a Decisive Choice”

After the roll call, the interim dean of the session, Jean-Noël Galthièr, presided. “I hope we do not forget the rural areas,” insisted the councillor embarking on his fourth term at the head of Montgesty, expressing some hesitation in following the protocol. “Although the mayor of Cahors will probably lead the intermunicipality,” he could not resist commenting.

Two candidates presented themselves: Vivien Coste, the mayor of Cahors, and Ghyslaine Jacques-Hureaux, leader of “Cahors Espérance.” Unsurprisingly, the incumbent mayor was elected president with a large majority, receiving 69 votes (two votes for his opponent, two blank, and two null). He now heads a territory of 36 municipalities with 43,786 inhabitants.

“Grand Cahors has made a decisive choice,” confirmed the new president shortly after, focusing on the “collective spirit,” budgetary issues, and simplification in his speech. He outlined several priorities: the economy, employment, healthcare, agriculture, and viticulture. “We are strong, we will be fair,” he reassured, announcing an organizational plan within the first three months to avoid “immobility and stagnation.” “Throughout these years, our community has shown agility, capabilities, and creativity. It is in this same spirit that I believe our actions should be placed,” he warned.

After his speech, Jean-Luc Marx congratulated his successor, “congratulating him on his brilliant election as president,” expressing his satisfaction for having served the territory.

Related: “A trust has been established, it obliges us”: Vivien Coste becomes mayor of Cahors and reveals his deputies and appointed advisors

A New Council of 22 Members

Subsequently, the councillors determined the composition of the community executive. The board of this new assembly will have 22 members: 15 vice-presidents and 6 delegated councillors. Despite various candidates supported by the community majority, only one competitor, Benoît Cabarrot from the opposition list “Cahors en commun,” attempted, unsuccessfully, to run for the 5th vice presidency dedicated to urban planning.

Prior to the votes, Frédéric Bonnet, the mayor of Saint-Pierre-Lafeuille, expressed some reservations about the previous governance. “We must avoid confusing a diffuse presence with actual governance,” he warned, calling for a change in practices. “The next governance cannot continue the old practices with new faces.”

A message to which Vivien Coste responded. “Everything we propose today is not cosmetic,” he assured, highlighting the redefinition of delegations and the committed willingness not to be entrenched in positions. “I want to tell you that we have given a certain number of assurances.”

After an election period of nearly four hours in the heavy atmosphere of Espace Valentré, all members of the board were elected.

The session then continued according to the agenda, without raising any particular emotions within the newly installed assembly. The community council finally ended at 7:29 PM.