French Territorial Communities: Too Numerous?

Extract

[...] A constant will to reduce the number of territorial communities - Law No. 2010-1563 of December on the reform of territorial communities: creation of the territorial counselor, strengthening and simplification of intercommunality, simplified merger of municipalities + Law No. 2015-29 of January on the delimitation of regions, regional and departmental elections: the map of regions is redrawn, the Metropolis passes from 21 to 12 regions (firm will to reduce the number of CT) - The Court of Auditors (2023 report) estimates that France has too many communes, particularly compared to its European neighbors. [...]

[...] Are French local authorities too numerous? - Introduction and detailed plan Pierre Mauroy, former French Prime Minister, said: "We must root the unity of the Republic in the diversity and autonomy of its communities. Thus, territorial communities have their place in France, particularly in the framework of the unity of the Republic. Territorial communities are of three types: they refer to municipalities, departments, regions, to collectivities with a particular status but also to overseas collectivities The twelfth chapter of the Constitution of October sets the contours of these collectivities and extends from Article 72 to Article 75-1. [...]

[...] They have a power called regulatory. This participates in the constitutional principle of free administration of territorial collectivities. This principle is the guarantee of local freedoms. [...]

[...] They can also promote their culture and heritage and are best placed to do so. In addition to taking into account the particularities of the territory, the territorial collectivities will be in line with a better participation of citizens in democracy. A better participation of citizens in democracy - Citizens participate in the exercise of the competences of territorial collectivities: Article 72-4, paragraph 1 of the Constitution provides that "No change, for all or part of one of the collectivities ( . [...]

[...] In terms of name, in 2024, France has 18 regions (13 in Metropolitan France and 5 in Overseas) municipalities, and finally departments (96 in Metropolitan and 5 in Overseas). The question that arises in this case is the following: Are French territorial communities too numerous? In order to answer this question, it will be necessary to first focus on these territorial communities, which are far too numerous before turning in a second time to the necessary conservation of these territorial communities (II). [...]