Jean-Christophe Picard, with his dual role as President of the PRG 06 and departmental head of the Anticor association, does not compromise and is increasingly active in the art of criticizing the behaviors of the local political caste.
In this capacity, he has addressed the competent authorities to report the (allegedly) irregular use of the parliamentary reserve by the Azuréens deputies Rudy Salles and Lionel Luca.
Beyond this initiative, of which we await the outcome, what really matters is this utterly incomprehensible system that allows national elected officials to legitimately benefit their electorate!
In fact, the “parliamentary reserve” system allows deputies and senators to allocate state funds to municipal projects or private legal entities (associations, foundations…) that have activities of general interest.
It amounts to 150 million euros per year. In 2010, the Alpes-Maritimes received 1,657,628 euros.
This system is, indeed, by nature clientelist. Deputies can thus benefit the associations of their constituency. Similarly, senators can financially assist mayors who are also the ones who vote in the senatorial elections!
“The parliamentary reserve is therefore nothing more than institutionalized clientelism, perfectly incompatible with a virtuous democracy,” according to Jean-Christophe Picard who has previously spoken on this topic:
The parliamentarians of the Alpes-Maritimes “agreed to reveal to us what they do with their own reserve”…
In reality, only 8 out of 14 have truly provided the exact amounts and beneficiaries: Christian Estrosi (UMP), Jean Leonetti (UMP), Lionnel Luca (UMP), Colette Guidicelli (UMP), Jean-Pierre Leleux (UMP), Louis Nègre (UMP), Rudy Salles (UDI), and Marc Daunis (PS). They should be congratulated!
“Upon reviewing their declarations, we discover a few anomalies. Thus, two deputies have clearly not understood that our Republic is secular. French taxpayers will surely be delighted to learn that, thanks to Lionnel Luca, they are financing the Association for the religious buildings and objects of Vence and the Saint-Bernard Parish Association.
Similarly, through Rudy Salles, everyone contributes to the development of the Christian Radios of France, the Chalom Nitsan radio, the Support and Assistance Association for Jewish Patients of Nice, the Educational Department of the Jewish Youth, and the Nice-North Catholic Family Association!
It is also surprising that Lionnel Luca found it useful to help “sailing champion Stéphane Christidis who, after his failure at the Beijing Olympics, no longer had any sponsor.” Similarly, Rudy Salles chose to give a boost to “Passion Automobiles.” Clearly, the priorities of our elected officials are not always in line with the needs of the population…” remarks Jean-Christophe Picard.
But, the most surprising is that Jean-Pierre Leleux is the only parliamentarian to protest against the very principle of this parliamentary reserve: “I don’t find it very normal that we benefit from this reserve. […] I am not surprised that this reserve is perceived by some as clientelist.”
