Lionel Gougelot (in Clairmarais) / Photo credits: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
Barely named, already on the ground. The new Prime Minister went Monday evening to the bedside of the victims of Pas-de-Calais where he met residents and traders, undermined by repeated floods, and now, frost and cold.
Gabriel Attal confirmed the release of an envelope of at least 50 million euros for the affected municipalities and announced a reinforced emergency fund for farmers and market gardeners of up to 20,000 euros in aid. A visit welcomed by the affected residents who are nevertheless waiting for concrete and rapid developments to combat rising water levels.
“You can see from the way he speaks that he wants it”
In this neighborhood with houses eaten away by humidity, the Prime Minister approaches residents exhausted by two months of flooding. “Thank you for coming. I hope you will hear our messages,” says a Pas-de-Calaisian. Gabriel Attal brings words of comfort, a gesture of solidarity. “We are here, at your side. We will continue to be, we will continue to monitor this situation very closely with very regular updates. I will come back here to make sure that all this is moving forward,” he declared. .
A warm and direct contact appreciated by François and Édith who were able to interact with the new tenant of Matignon. “We can see from the way he speaks that he wants it. He’s young so let’s hope he’s up to the challenge,” François slips. “We only hope one thing, and that is that he understands the seriousness of the situation and that it will simply make things happen,” adds Edith.
“I hope he will make things happen”
All these victims are waiting for means and concrete actions against the floods. “We need rapid action and then protect ourselves until the end of the rising waters, to spend the spring dry. I hope that it will make things happen. After the politicians, we no longer believe in it much “, sighs a resident.
A willing Prime Minister no doubt, says an elected official, but we will only judge him on the results.