Mont-Saint-Michel abbey management transfer plan sparks outcry

On May 20, La Lettre disclosed that the French government intends to shift the oversight of Mont-Saint-Michel abbey from the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) to the Établissement public du Mont-Saint-Michel (EPMSM). This decision was made by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. On May 23, unions CGT-Culture and CGT-CMN criticized the absence of an impact study and consultation, deeming it a significant error. The abbey, a historical site from the 10th century, draws 1.4 million visitors each year, contributing more than 15% to CMN's revenue. Local authorities contend that CMN takes over €7 million from the site, while EPMSM only receives €600,000. The agreement among the ministry, CMN, and EPMSM concludes on June 30, with Culture Minister Catherine Pégard remaining silent.