The strong mobilization and fervor of supporters and sympathizers from Nice and the Côte d’Azur (but in this case, the sympathizers had left the limited seats at the Palais de la Méditerranée to the supporters!) set the tone for this closing evening of the presidential campaign. For the Côte d’Azur activists, Nicolas Sarkozy should not even be elected but directly appointed President for life!
The presence of Prime Minister François Fillon, praised by Christian Estrosi (is a post-electoral anti-Copé alliance within the UMP emerging?) did the rest. Just like the style of the evening, efficiently managed by the master of the house and ceremony, Pascal Condomitti, while the “jeunes populaires” ensured the tricolor flag scenography and the applause.
All the parliamentarians from the department as well as many elected officials were present, as the upcoming legislative elections were already in sight. It’s only normal to stand out among the good students to avoid risking a bad (false) grade.
The first to speak was Jean Léonetti, Mayor of Antibes, who wanted to set the tone for the evening from the start: “The tide has turned, and we will be the ones popping champagne on Sunday night,” he said, stirring up general enthusiasm. But, as an expert politician, the Minister (still) in charge knows very well that you must always go with the grain!
A perfect hand-off to Michèle Tabarot, Mayor of Le Cannet and outgoing Deputy as well as local representative of Jean-François Copé (!), who recalled “the excellent record of the Government’s five-year term and its parliamentary majority (a clever way to bring her mentor in through the window, who was president of the UMP group in the National Assembly before taking over the Party… leaving the place to the loyal Christian Jacob).
The audience was awaiting the heavy hitters from Nice, and Eric Ciotti, president of the General Council, did not disappoint: “More than ever, the game is not over. France’s people are against those elites who think they know everything. This is the moment of truth, and the Alpes-Maritimes are committed behind Nicolas Sarkozy to give him victory.” He concluded with: “François Fillon has been a formidable head of government; he carried out difficult but necessary reforms.”
Christian Estrosi’s speech was dizzyingly passionate. From the outset, the Mayor of Nice, known for his displayed proximity to the “outgoing” President, executed François Bayrou for his unfavorable voting declaration towards Nicolas Sarkozy: “I am against contortions and reversals.” He then recalled his special connection with the latter: “I have known Nicolas Sarkozy since 1988 when we were both elected for the first time to the National Assembly. We were two young visionaries who understood that 21st-century France could not be governed with 19th-century ideas and style. I immediately understood that Nicolas would have a great destiny.”
And to conclude: “The Alpes-Maritimes and Nice were the department and city where Nicolas Sarkozy was the most acclaimed in the first round. And those where François Hollande was the least voted for. I ask you to ensure that it is the same for the second round. That way, our victory will be even more beautiful!”
And then we come to the guest of honor of the evening, François Fillon, who first presented an exhaustive and, quite naturally, extraordinarily commendable record of governmental action.
With a forceful tone and choice of words, the person who will have been the longest-serving Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic, strongly criticized the socialist opponent, defining his program as “colorless and tasteless” and its author as “an arrogant and depressing person.”
François Fillon, known for his usually measured style, then raised his tone by speaking about the socialist peril which, in case of success, would send “France straight into a wall.” And with an enthusiasm not previously known, “The Left will be the source of disorder and improvisation. France will no longer know how to influence the course of history,” he said, closing the 37th and final meeting of “his” campaign.
The pro-Sarkozy campaign (presidential obligations) but also to highlight himself to the provincial public and local officials. Was the reference to Gaullist values (“one must know how to surpass oneself”) that of the future UMP leader?
A united singing of “La Marseillaise” to wrap things up, and now a meeting scheduled for this Sunday to give the floor to the ballots.
