The close guard Jean-Claude Gaudin, the former mayor of Marseille who died in May, worked on Monday to the deputy mayor Julien Ruas, who is accused in the trial of the fatal fall of rue d’Aubagne, to be cleared, with statements considered “surprise”.
“If an elected official is competent in the field in which he is the deputy chief, he becomes the chief of the department and that is not a good thing of delegation”, said Claude Bertrand, 79 years old, chief the staff of the LR Jean-Claude Gaudin during the 25 years of his management.
“The same thing is surprising,” notes the president of Marseille’s criminal court, Pascal Ghent.
Then another dinosaur of the political life of Marseille arrived, also named by the defense of Julien Ruas: Jean-Pierre Chanal, who at the time of the collapse on rue d’Aubagne in November 2018 was deputy director general of services (DGS).
“In a city, the mayor has territorial authority, the DGS has hierarchical authority so that no deputy can interfere.
Julien Ruas was primarily responsible at the time for the prevention and management of urban risks and the policing of buildings at risk. He believes he was “the perfect hawk” in this tragedy that left eight people dead and distraught in France’s second largest city.
But for the investigating judges, he was “at the heart of the fight against dirty and substandard housing” and “his position as an elected official gave him the political weight necessary for decisions” especially against “sub-criticism of the staff of the prevention and management service”.
Undoubtedly this drama and the large demonstrations that followed played a role in losing the right in the 2020 municipal elections.
**Considering the public’s loss of trust in Marseille’s leadership following the Rue d’Aubagne tragedy, what steps can elected officials take to rebuild that trust and demonstrate accountability in similar situations moving forward?**
## World Today News: Interview Special – The Marseille Tragedy and its political fallout**Host:** Welcome back to World Today News. Today, we’re diving deep into the ongoing trial concerning the fatal fall on Rue d’Aubagne in Marseille in 2018, a tragedy that shook the city and left eight people dead. Joining us to unpack the complexities of this case and its political ramifications are two esteemed guests:
**Guest 1:** [Name, Title/Expertise, relevant background]
**Guest 2:** [Name, Title/Expertise, relevant background]
Let’s start with the crux of the matter - the accusations levied against Julien Ruas, the then deputy mayor
**Section 1: The Role and Responsibilities of Elected Officials**
**Host:** [Guest 1], the article mentions that Jean-Claude Gaudin, the former mayor of Marseille,
commented on the nature of delegation in this case, suggesting that when an elected official exceeds their
designated role, it can become problematic. What are your thoughts on this statement? Can you elaborate on the
potential pitfalls of such situations?
**[Guest 1 responds]**
**Host:** [Guest 2], you have years of experience observing the dynamics of city governance. How do you assess
the balance of power between elected officials and department heads like the DGS, who are mentioned in the
article? What are the challenges in striking this balance effectively?
**[Guest 2 responds]**
**Section 2: Political Leadership and Accountability in Crisis**
**Host:** The article highlights the claim that Julien Ruas considered himself “the perfect hawk” regarding urban
safety. This comes at odds with the investigating judges’ assessment of his role in the Rue d’Aubagne
incident. [Guest 2], how crucial is proactive leadership, particularly in matters of urban safety, and what are the
expectations for elected officials in such contexts?
**[Guest 2 responds]**
**Host:** [Guest 1], this tragedy undoubtedly cast a long shadow over Marseille’s political landscape and
has been cited as a contributing factor to the right’s loss in the 2020 municipal elections. Can you shed
light on the broader implications of this event for public trust and the accountability of political leadership in
similar situations?
**[Guest 1 responds]**
**Guest 2:** It’s crucial to remember the human cost of this tragedy.
**Section 3: Reflecting on the Rue d’Aubagne Tragedy**
**Host:** as we move forward, what lessons can be learned from this tragedy, both in terms of urban safety
and political responsibility?
**[Both Guests offer concluding remarks]**
**Host:** Thank you both for your valuable insights on this complex and crucial issue. The trial of Julien Ruas
remains ongoing, and we will continue to follow developments closely.