Didier Khelfa is the new Head of Cabinet for Nicolas Isnard.
Chief of Staff and future Director-General of Services?
Hardly appointed Chief of Staff, some already see Didier Khelfa succeeding Domnin Rauscher soon.[1], current Chief Executive Officer (DGS) of the Institution. Who is Didier Khelfa? Former Mayor of Saint-Chamas (2014-2025), he resigned from his office ahead of time. Admittedly, the person concerned had hinted, right from his election, that he would not serve more than two terms, but the timing of his resignation, a year and a half before the ballot, raises questions. According to a source at geopolitics.fr, this decision could be motivated by a professional opportunity and financial reasons.
A prominent position in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, a close associate of Martine Vassal
Indeed, as soon as he stepped down, he was appointed Deputy Director-General for General Administration in the Bouches-du-Rhône Department, an institution chaired by Martine Vassal. This is a far more lucrative role than that of Mayor of a small town and Vice-President of the Metropolitan Area, paying roughly double or even triple the salary. It is an eminently sensitive and strategic post, as it involves oversight of the Finance Department and public procurement. Didier Khelfa has a reputation as an expert in local finance. These skills and talents will prove extremely useful to Martine Vassal, given the dire state of the Department’s finances and the sensitivity of issues relating to public procurement.
The former VP of the Metropolis in charge of Finance... To plug the gaping hole he helped create?
Didier Khelfa was unable to put this expertise to good use at the Metropolis, where he served as Vice-President delegated to the Budget, Finance, Financial Strategy, and contractualisation with the State and local authorities. And this continued until his resignation from the office of Mayor, a decision that automatically brought his mandate at the Metropolis to an end.
It is therefore one of the key figures responsible for the Metropolis’s massive budget deficit (€123 million) – a former elected representative and aide to Martine Vassal – who is taking up the post of Chief of Staff[2]. It is difficult for Nicolas Isnard to claim to be completely unaware of the institution’s financial situation when he himself was an elected representative there and his closest colleague was at the forefront of its operations.
Franck Dumontel, Samia Ghali’s husband, has joined Nicolas Isnard’s office
A Socialist Party aide for a Les Républicains president
This comes as a real surprise. Indeed, the chief of staff’s office is a purely political – and at times even partisan – body, within which the head of the executive appoints staff in whom they have absolute personal confidence and who, naturally, share their political views. It is worth noting that the timing is ideal for Franck Dumontel: he was chief of staff to Cecille Helles, the Socialist Party (PS) mayor of Avignon[3] who was not standing for re-election. And the PS list was wiped out during the last municipal elections in this city.
While shared governance between elected officials and civil servants—who must be motivated solely by the public interest—is understandable, appointing figures from a clearly opposing political side to the Cabinet is unprecedented and raises questions about the real power of the new President of the Metropolis.
Samia Ghali’s husband: move along, there’s nothing to see here!
Furthermore, the marital bond between Franck Domontel and Samia Ghali cannot be without consequences, given that she came out on top in the last elections: 3rd Deputy Mayor of Marseille, Deputy Mayor – responsible for transport, urban regeneration and major infrastructure projects, a metropolitan councillor – and likely future chair of the Régie Marseillaise des Transports (RTM). She even chose, entirely at her own discretion, the Mayor of the 15thth and 16thdistricts. The man in question is Jean-Marc Coppola, whose name had not even been mentioned to voters before the election. Out goes the outgoing mayor, Nadia Boulainseur. What a strange democracy!
At the Metropolitan Authority, Franck Dumontel will be specifically responsible for matters relating to relations between the Metropolitan Authority and the city of Marseille, or for matters of mutual interest. In other words, the Deputy Mayor of Marseille has (at least) one foot in Nicolas Isnard’s office.
Legal precautions that are worth what they’re worth
Admittedly, legal precautions were taken: in a deportation order dated 24 April, it is pointed out that as a result of this marital union conflicts of interest may arise. Consequently, Franck Dumontel «shall refrain from any intervention regarding the instruction, monitoring and execution of decisions relating to mobility projects, urban renewal and structuring projects concerning the city of Marseille and falling within the remit of Madame Samia Ghali».
How can one imagine that, on issues as significant and far-reaching as transport and urban regeneration, a councillor responsible for relations between the Metropolitan Authority and the City would not be involved? The question that immediately springs to mind is crystal clear: what oversight is there? An article in the newspaper *Le Monde* stated as early as 2014: «Her husband and political adviser, Franck Dumontel (…) interferes in everything his wife does»»[4]
This blurring of roles amounts to taking the people of Marseille for fools. But it helps us better understand both the absurdity of this appointment and the legal precautions taken in light of Franck Dumontel’s past.
A heavy and long past
Charged and subsequently acquitted in a case of embezzlement of public funds at the Regional Authority
In 2009, whilst serving as Chief of Staff to Michelle Vauzelle, he was placed under investigation in connection with an alleged case of embezzlement of grants within the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Council. He is suspected of «complicity in the embezzlement of public funds». At issue were €740,000 in grants intended for several associations in the northern districts of Marseille, organisations which the courts suspect of being «shell companies».
The link between these grants and Sylvie Andrieux (the region’s vice-president (PS), an elected representative for the neighbourhoods to which these grants were earmarked) had been implicitly drawn by Michel Vauzelle. Mr Vauzelle brought a civil action on behalf of the institution and stripped the Marseille MP of her role as head of urban policy.
Whilst in police custody at the premises of the Financial Crime Unit of the Marseille SRPJ, Franck Dumontel vehemently denied having any knowledge of any fraudulent scheme[6].
A member of the Guerini brothers’ family at Eugène Caselli’s?
Franck Dumontel is by no means a newcomer to the Metropolitan Authority. In fact, he served as Chief of Staff to Eugène Caselli at the Marseille Provence Métropole Urban Community in 2008–2009 (the predecessor of the current Metropolitan Authority).
Regarded as close to the Guérini brothers, the latter believe they were the ones who secured his appointment as chief of staff to Eugène Caselli. In a conversation recorded on 7 May 2009 between Alexandre Guérini and Henri Proglio, then chief executive of Veolia, the former states that Franck Dumontel « is an extraordinarily intelligent and highly efficient bloke, er, who is currently Caselli’s chief of staff – Jean-Noël appointed him to that role – but in truth, he’s the boss; er, it’s Franck who’s the real boss of the Marseille Urban Community and who is our, er, our close friend "What…?"» [5]
Upon learning of this recording, Eugène Caselli immediately dismissed his Chief of Staff.
A dynamic consultancy firm
Finally, an online, freely accessible search of «Pappers» reveals that Franck Dumontel heads or manages three active companies: one providing management consultancy services, and two other property investment companies (SCIs) involved in the letting of land and other properties.
A Presidency that gets off to a bad start
Consequently, the hopes for change, renewal and transparency raised by Nicolas Isnard’s election as head of the Metropolis are (already) in danger of fizzling out. Whilst he has spent months preparing thoroughly to take the helm of the organisation, the new president seems far less capable of actually exercising power. Who really runs the Aix-Marseille Metropolitan Area? It is a question worth asking…
[1] The current Director-General of Health, the strongman of the Vassal system, is protected by his status. Indeed, a decision to terminate his appointment can only be taken after a period of six months depending on whether the person is appointed to the post or designated by the local authority’s decision-making body.
[2] The previous Chief of Staff was none other than Marc Jolibois, Martine Vassal’s partner. She had appointed him as Chief of Staff for both the Metropolitan Authority and the Department.
[3] Both Cecille Helles and Franck Dumontel were close associates of Elisabeth Guigou. One was her deputy and the other worked in the former minister’s private office.
[4] https://www.lemonde.fr/m-actu/article/2014/02/14/samia-ghali-ne-perd-pas-le-nord_4365624_4497186.html
[5] Source: Le JDD, 12 December 2010
[6] Source: La Gazette des Communes https://www.lagazettedescommunes.com/4031/paca-deux-anciens-cadres-de-la-region-mis-en-examen-dans-le-dossier-des-subventions-fictives/
French 
English