Major territorial investments, insecurity, Covid, urban renewal among other issues, for his presentation press conference and first meeting with the regional press, Hugues Moutouh, new representative of the State, did not evade any subject.
This Monday, July 19, he arrives in the spacious golden lounge of the Prefecture of Hérault, Hugues Moutouh, 54, succeeds Jacques Witkowski, recently appointed Prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis, in Bobigny.
#Montpellier : Presentation of the new @Prefet34 Hughes #Moutouh in the golden salon of the Prefecture. He succeeds Jacques #Witkoski appointed @Prefet93 recently. #Herault pic.twitter.com/MD92e84LvD
– The Movement (@lemouvementinfo) July 19, 2021
Without even the journalists asking him the slightest question, this imposing academic assures that he is ” absolutely delighted to be here in Hérault and clearly up to the task since Monday morning. “ For his first day on the job, the schedule was already busy, almost timed. In addition to the meeting with the press, Hugues Moutouh spoke with Michaël Delafosse, Mayor of Montpellier and President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole in the morning. Always concerned with ” never report to the press verbal exchanges held with a major player in the territory, “The Prefect will be content to point out that he has met a” elected well aware of the situation, committed to the territory and perfectly responsible. »
« A high official of authority and action ”
In the next few days, the prefectural agenda will look like a series of meetings. ” I will meet several personalities, including Jérôme Despey, (Winegrower and President of the Chamber of Agriculture of Hérault, editor’s note) in the next few days. But I wish, as was the case this morning, to meet these local actors in their territories, in their communities, so I will go there during each meeting, in Sète, etc. “ explains this native of Paris.
« I am not here to make jokes or to be passive. I am here to get things done, I have a cash speech, even very cash, I want things to move forward with an idea that often comes to my mind: force must stay true to the law. “By way of introduction, the former Prefect of Drôme is not in the lace. Meticulous in his remarks, he insists on the fact that he is not there to make the figuration. On the contrary, he assumes to be ” a high official of authority and action. »
A territory where there is no shortage of construction sites
Pounding repeatedly that he is ” clearly at work, “ Hugues Moutouh sets foot in a department where the sites are as numerous as they are varied. The opportunity for the former Prefect of Drôme to recall the extent of the actions carried out by a representative of the State in the provinces. After 18 months “very complicated to live ” as he himself admits, the subject of Covid and vaccination was unsurprisingly a major subject of this press briefing. “The incidence rate has exceeded the 200% threshold in Hérault” deplores Hugues Moutouh, immediately tempering his concern by explaining that ” At present, only 9 people are in intensive care, and among these 9, none had received their 2 doses of vaccination. “
“And there, I am not a conspirator, I am factual, I have figures, I have a good memory of the figures so here I am factual. I say what it is ” asserts this former student of Sciences Po Bordeaux, less than 48 hours after a recent demonstration by opponents of the Sanitary Pass in the city center.
What about the health situation in the coming weeks in the Hérault? Anxious not to frighten anyone, neither carers, nor Hérault residents, nor tourists, many especially in this summer period, Hugues Moutouh wants to be reassuring and explains that he will not impose anything overnight. ” A tightening of the rules is not excluded. It must be said. The curfew is not immediate, but, yes, that can change quickly. Binding announcements are likely to come. This cannot be ruled out. But, I can’t announce anything today, ”Says the new tenant of the Prefecture.
« You have to be very clear when you speak. An announcement, a reform for it to be accepted, it must be justified and above all it must be understood by the greatest number of our fellow citizens ” details Hugues Moutouh, obviously anxious not to pass for Father Fouettard, if in the coming days, the coming weeks, it was up to him to announce restrictive measures in connection with the health situation. Keeps him in mind as a leitmotif: ” the restriction must remain the exception. Even though obviously sometimes in the future there really won’t be any other choice.
Another area of action of a prefect: security, or rather ” the fight against everyday insecurity, ”To use the words of this former ministerial adviser. ” Montpellier is a beautiful city, you [les journalistes présents, ndlr] are in a good position to know it. It shouldn’t be anymore. We’ll have to keep cleaning up the city »Slams the Prefect, even if it means shocking some. From the outset, he was pleased to note in recent days that “ the Public prosecutor’s office, national and municipal police and local elected officials are all working concretely, in the same direction and especially hand in hand, and this is a very good thing.. »
This specialist in public freedoms is not for systematically prohibiting demonstrations, even if the latter are frequent in Montpellier. Perfectly aware that “All the demonstrators are not all vandals who have come to do battle,” the new tenant of the Prefecture will not allow anything to be done. ” Force must remain with the law ” has repeatedly recalled the one who presents himself as a ” legalist, specialist in public freedoms. “
Taking up one of the main demands of the demonstrators of the last weekend opposed to the Sanitary Pass, the former Prefect of the Creuse recalls “That in France, we are clearly not under a dictatorship. “
#Herault : “It is absolutely unacceptable that a Member of Parliament, @MIRALLESMP, may have been seriously threatened in the performance of his duties. She can count on me and on the state by her side at such times ”Hughes Moutouh @Prefet34 #Herault pic.twitter.com/fRhwQ1GsQ5
– The Movement (@lemouvementinfo) July 19, 2021
What future for the territory?
Among the other points raised during the 80-minute press briefing, from this Monday, July 19, Hugues Moutouh took the opportunity to discuss the development of the territory and the major projects that are underway. Starting with the railway works of the High Speed Line (LGV) to Spain. On this file, the law clerk insists that ” it is an important project of general interest“. However, he will not do anything in this file to please some, or others. Quite the contrary. Responding to a question from a local journalist present, the new Prefect clarified his thoughts by explaining that ” on this issue, as on others, but above all on this one, it will be necessary to move forward and intelligently build this future infrastructure. “ The various elected officials and communities concerned will appreciate.
And in this file, as in many others, the collective is a concept repeatedly put forward by this former rugby player. Hugues Moutouh also concluded his remarks by specifying his way of seeing things, with a touch of philosophy: “ I believe a lot in the strength of the collective rather than that of a single person. I really believe a lot in the community of citizens who act together, for the good of the greatest number. But, all the same, it is necessary and it will be necessary for each one to remain coherent in his personal journey. “
[VIDEO] Hugues Moutouh, Prefect of Hérault:
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