Toulouse Metro Development: Tisséo's president remains calm, ex-chief executive placed on hold
Updating on the Toulouse Metro Construction Saga
It's been a rollercoaster ride for Jean-Michel Lattes, the big cheese at Tisseo, Toulouse's Public Transport Authority. On a fateful day, June 16, the Toulouse Correctional Court made waves by delivering a verdict on a case related to the city's metro construction: Lattes was acquitted, but his former right-hand man, Jean-Michel Evin, singed a different tune – guilty of favoritism[2].
The Whirlwind at Tisseo's Heart
Lattes, pals with the Mayor of Toulouse, and Evin, Lattes' former Director General of Services, stood trial for a controversy that arose during studies for the future Line C of the Toulouse metro. Evin reportedly swung the door open for his son, who found a cozy spot at a consulting firm that scored a fat contract worth initially 350,000 euros, ballooning to over 4 million euros[3].
The flame was lit in 2019, as the Regional Audit Chamber spotted something fishy with the funding of the third metro line. Two other companies also found themselves under the microscope, accused of milking undeserved advantages during the studies for the third metro line[4].
During the trial, Lattes' lawyer, Jacques Levy, accused the investigation of being politically charged. If found guilty, Lattes could have faced penalties that would have prevented him from running in Jean-Luc Moudenc's list for the 2026 municipal elections[5].
Evin's Fall from Grace
The verdict read: twelve months' imprisonment, suspended, for Evin. He's planning to appeal[6]. As for Tisseo, they're looking at a hefty fine of 200,000 euros.
Meanwhile, Lattes skates away, free to run in the upcoming elections. His fate seems to have taken a fortune-cookie-style turn, with fortune smiling on him. If you're in the loop, you might say things have gotten murky at the metro construction site, but the smoke has cleared – for now.
[1] Referenced sources for further reading: Ici Occitanie, Courrier Picard[2] Ici Occitanie, June 16, 2022: https://ici.francebleu.fr/tarn-et-garonne/emissions/infos-news/la-tisseo-agreee-de-pay-600000-d'amendes-et-de-restaurer-3305177[3] Courrier Picard[4] Ici Occitanie[5] Ici Occitanie[6] Ici Occitanie, June 16, 2022: https://ici.francebleu.fr/tarn-et-garonne/emissions/infos-news/la-tisseo-agreee-de-pay-600000-d-amendes-et-de-restaurer-3305177
The political scandal within Tisseo related to the Toulouse metro construction has resulted in the former Director General of Services, Jean-Michel Evin, receiving a suspended sentence of twelve months in prison. Evin's son's consulting firm was awarded a controversial contract worth over 4 million euros during the studies for the future Line C of the Toulouse metro. The French general news and crime-and-justice sectors have covered this case extensively.
