The Regional Council in Saint-Denis de La Réunion was found guilty of illegal hiring practices and irregular recruitment procedures by the administrative court on March 22nd. Eighteen former employees, whose fixed-term contracts were not renewed, were awarded compensation. Two complaints were filed against the council by former employees and the autonomous union of local civil servants in late 2022. President Huguette Bello and several members of her majority are accused of hiring family members or supporters who had helped with the regional elections in 2021 or the legislative elections in 2022.
The court examined the cases of twenty-eight employees who were dismissed from their positions at the beginning of 2022. These employees worked in various roles in the island’s high schools, such as maintenance workers or computer program animators. Eighteen of them were awarded compensation ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 euros. The court did not grant requests for reinstatement. In some cases, the judges found a clear mismatch between the candidate’s profile and the requirements of the position they were hired for. In others, the recruitment process did not comply with the applicable rules.
Among the employees who received compensation, one former maintenance worker was replaced by the president’s nephew. Another former employee lost her position to the son of a regional councilor from the majority party. The lawyer representing these employees highlighted the lack of proper recruitment procedures and the unfair treatment they faced. In another case, the brother of the region’s eighth vice president was hired without following the correct recruitment process. These cases demonstrate a pattern of nepotism and favoritism within the council’s hiring practices.
The Regional Council of La Réunion has been criticized for its lack of transparency and fairness in its recruitment processes. The court’s decision to award compensation to affected employees highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability in public sector employment practices. The involvement of high-ranking officials in the alleged illegal hirings has raised concerns about ethical standards and integrity within the council. The allegations of nepotism and clientelism must be investigated further to ensure that public resources are used responsibly and in the best interests of the community.
