A mayor in France has led his town council in approving a €64,000 contribution to France’s national defense budget, citing growing security threats and the need for collective responsibility.
Gil Bernardi of the center-right Les Républicains (LR) claimed the town of Le Lavandou, located in the Var department along the French Riviera, is in strong financial health, boasting a €2 million budget surplus, and could afford to do its patriotic duty by offering the state a subsidy to assist with defense.
The decision, passed by the municipal council with 20 votes in favor and 4 against, will see the town contribute around €10 per resident to the Ministry of Defense.
“This is a sovereign matter, typically the responsibility of the state alone,” Bernardi told local media as cited by Le Figaro. “But the state is us too, even the small towns. So, let’s make a little effort.”
He reassured residents that no additional taxes would be levied to fund the donation. “Everyone is patriotic, and it’s time to show it,” Bernardi said, adding that he will meet with the regional prefect soon to ensure the legality of the initiative.
At 72, the veteran mayor recalls the Cold War era and believes today’s volatile global climate requires renewed civic commitment. “We thought there was no longer any need for an army,” he told Var-Matin. “But with the state burdened by €3.3 trillion in debt, it cannot manage the defense effort alone.”
The decision has sparked debate among locals and political opponents alike. Jean-Laurent Felizia, a left-wing opposition politician who voted against the measure, criticized it as fostering unnecessary anxiety. “The state is asking municipalities to cut spending, and yet we’re throwing money at a so-called war effort,” Felizia argued. “We should be calming society, not stoking fears.”
Bernardi rejected the criticism, insisting that the move is about national defense, not warmongering. “I never spoke of a war effort,” he clarified. “When a municipality has a surplus, it can devote a small part to the nation. This controversy seems pointless.”
Many residents, however, welcomed the move. “It’s a great idea, and all municipalities should do the same,” Patrick, a local from the nearby village of Cavalière, told BFMTV Toulon Var. Xavier, another resident, added: “As long as it doesn’t increase our local taxes, and the town can afford it, it seems like a reasonable and positive step.”
