If there was an outgoing person in Jean Icart due to editorial ventures, there is a new, and likely final, entrant. The lineup for the municipal election in Nice remains unchanged in number but changes in profile.
Exit a calm and experienced individual, enter a passionate fighter… Who gained in the exchange?
It is Philippe Vardon, the leader of the identitarian movement, Nissa Rebela, who, failing to reach an agreement with one of the non-UMP right-wing list leaders, has finally decided to join the electoral race solo under the banner of “Immigration-Islamisation-Insecurity-Taxes: Enough! with Philippe Vardon, the only opposition.”
However, unlike the other candidates who all see themselves seated in the mayor’s chair, Philippe Vardon has already conceded victory to Christian Estrosi and is fighting to become “the only real and credible opposition” on the municipal council. Is he really so wrong?
“Yes, we will be the list of the ordinary people of Nice and we are proud of it! Like me and like the 64 other people who will make up our list and who have chosen resistance and defiance,” affirmed the new candidate.
After recounting his unsuccessful attempts to form a united right-wing anti-Estrosi list (“These last months, I wasted a lot of time, too much time, with political games, political players, trying to reason with them, trying to convince them, trying to share with them what drives us. In vain”), Philippe Vardon embraced his role as chief opponent: “Our list embodies the only opposition with a clear and strong political line, a genuine alternative project to that of Christian Estrosi and the left for the future of our city.”
He concluded with a clearly targeted appeal: “We call on all the people of Nice, all those who care about defending this city and its roots, to support us in this struggle: by joining our activist teams in the neighborhoods, and of course by voting for our list next March.”
Will the collective of FN dissidents who have recently abandoned Ms. Arnautu’s ship be the first attentive ears to this?
