During their week of vacation, the Nice Premium team is happy to offer you a compilation of their best articles. For this last day, you will find a selection of five articles curated by the editorial team.
In such events that make history, one never knows the proper protocol. To whom should the floor be given first? The priority, before the politicians, belongs to Véronique Anfosso. She has been fighting daily for many months with her association “Agir Pour Ingrid” to ensure that Nice supports the fight of Ingrid Bétancourt and her family. The demonstrations she organized showed how much the Niçois were united in the noblest of causes: that of freedom. On Thursday afternoon, Véronique Anfosso couldn’t hide her joy: “It’s a beautiful victory for freedom. Ingrid Bétancourt is a true heroine who has fought for her values.” Octavio Velasco relived a difficult period of his life, having been a hostage of the FARC and now working in a major Nice restaurant: “It was something powerful. I experienced it. When Ingrid recounted it, it reminded me of what I went through. It’s hard to forget all those moments. My life has changed. You don’t live the same way after that.” After the emotion subsided, he expressed his happiness for his country: “I am very happy for Colombia. One can speak of hope. The bad days are behind us.” A note of hope for his people.
Christian Estrosi speaks of a symbol: “Ingrid is a symbol. For years she led a magnificent fight. It proves that when you are an exceptional person, who wants to resist physical and moral suffering, anything is possible.” During his two media interventions, the Deputy Mayor of Nice spoke of how he learned the news: “My phone rang during a dinner with the Ambassador of Israel we were hosting. I was told: Ingrid has been released. The dinner turned into a celebration. The moment became magical. We all rushed to our TVs.” The political satisfaction is unanimous. The reaction of Patrick Allemand, the PS leader from the Alpes Maritimes department, proves it: “It’s wonderful for her and her family. It’s a republican communion and everyone should come together for this event.” Isabelle Delage, a centrist municipal councilor, reacts by sharing her feelings as a woman: “I am delighted. I am happy for the victory of life over horror and the unacceptable. I think of the mother who was deprived of her children, of her children’s happiness. It moves me deeply.”
On Friday morning, a gathering took place in front of the Théâtre de Verdure in Nice. Several hundred people came to share their emotions. We encountered personalities from all walks of life: socialists, UMP, MoDem… anonymous individuals, reality TV winners… There were no other labels apart from that of relief rather than joy.
