The executive of the village of Collonges, in Valais, works with four advisers instead of five. Elected when he was not a candidate, a citizen refuses to take office for months. A situation that highlights the limits of the militia system in small municipalities.
During the last municipal elections, last October, the municipality recorded fewer applications than seats to be filled. Consequence: two citizens were elected “against their will”. They refused their election and immediately sent their resignation. The Council of State accepted one of them for health reasons and a replacement was found.
The cantonal government did not however go in the direction of the other elected official, therefore forced to sit. Ten months later, he still refuses to participate in the sessions of the town council of the village of nearly 900 inhabitants. Solicited by RTS, he did not wish to speak.
“Moments of fatigue”
The president of the commune Michel Tacchini said that the other four advisers had to accept the situation. “We have divided the dicasteries according to our knowledge. Everyone is diligent in their workload. There are moments of fatigue, with the significant hours to process all files,” he explains in the morning.
For the president of Collonges, this situation shows the flaws of the militia system. And he already apprehends the next municipal elections in 2028: “I want to bring together the former presidents and the former municipal councilors of the town next year to try to find a solution to have at least five candidates on a common list to move forward,” says Michel Tacchini.
It remains to be seen whether this affair will reverse the trend in this commune in chronic lack of political staff.
>> To reread: An “elected despite himself” forced to sit on the municipal council of Collonges
Radio subject: Diana-Alice Ramsauer
Adaptation web: ami
