This morning, the City Council will debate, among other things, the report from the Regional Court of Auditors regarding the Grand Stade (Allianz Riviera) case. Undoubtedly, it will be an occasion for a fierce confrontation between the mayor of Nice and his various oppositions.
The stakes are high and could significantly damage the image of Christian Estrosi, who, with an overwhelming majority, manages the city (and the metropolitan area) like a “fiefdom.”
Just months before the elections, in which he is a candidate for the presidency of the PACA Region, this could be a sensitive “thorn” for his ambitions. As we know in politics, the wind can change quickly…
The debates will be lively, but, hopefully, will remain within the confines of a tough confrontation yet maintain proper tone and conduct. Still, connected to this same case, there is also an ongoing investigation by the national financial prosecutor’s office, accompanied by searches and document seizures.
The oppositions have already raised their voices, as we reported in our columns. The mayor of Nice responded to them indirectly with a self-conducted interview in the regional daily newspaper.
To avoid any confusion, it is important to better situate the facts in question.
Ultimately, aside from any judicial proceedings and political commentary, this case, already criticized, will always carry an element of opacity.
For instance, how can we think otherwise when a right acquired for 25 million euros is later resold on paper for 80 million to a shareholder of the resident club? It may be perfectly legal, but…
And why should a 35,000-seat stadium cost between 244 and nearly 400 million euros (depending on the municipality’s version and the CRC report) when the Juventus Stadium in Turin, with 42,000 seats — and universally praised — inaugurated around the same time, only cost about 130 million euros?
Did Jean-Claude Blanc (current Managing Director of PSG and formerly of Juventus) work miracles on his project?
Isn’t there an international standard price per seat?
Worse still, given the proximity and strong friendship between the two cities: why not get information from one another?
Of course, it is crucial to distinguish between two things: one is the CRC’s report; the other, the investigation conducted by the national financial prosecutor’s office handling the case.
Regarding the CRC: its report’s conclusions can be summarized with the following complaints:
a) It appears that the use of PPP in the context of the Nice stadium did not meet legal criteria… it does not constitute equipment necessary for a public service under the municipality’s responsibility.
b) The contract (and rights) for the Nice One shopping center, benefiting from a 99-year lease, will be a major revenue generator worth several hundred million euros and was acquired from Vinci by an OGCN shareholder, Jean Bessis, after Vinci had previously paid 25 million to the Nice municipality as a contribution to the accompanying real estate program.
c) The awarding of the contract to Nice Eco Stadium raises questions.
d) The municipality assumes numerous risks and has borne undue expenses.
e) Ultimately, the stadium will cost the municipality nearly 400 million euros net.
f) The National Sports Museum, integrated into the stadium, …its funding is secured under very unfavorable conditions for the municipality (9 million euros). Furthermore, contrary to regulations, the municipality will almost freely provide more than 5000 square meters of museum space.
Regarding the investigation conducted by the PNF: We must stick to the bare facts and a few assumptions.
The facts are that eight searches were conducted in different locations throughout the day on Tuesday. The assumption is that potential anomalies might have been noted by the magistrates in charge of the investigation, necessitating the acquisition of documentation pieces.
An investigation is what it is, and at this stage (!), we must leave it at that without further comments.
However, since, as everyone knows, stirring things up causes splashes, Robert Injey (FdG) held a press conference yesterday afternoon in which he denounced what he calls an “indecent situation!”
Read carefully: Nice Stadium, questions about a potential conflict of interest
February 15, 2010: Mr. Auroy leaves his position as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Nice to be appointed Special Advisor to the President of Nice Côte d’Azur, in charge of OIN matters.
December 17, 2010: The Nice City Council awards the PPP contract for the construction and operation of the Nice Stadium, an iconic facility at the heart of the OIN, to the Vinci company.
January 11, 2011: Mr. Auroy is appointed Deputy General Manager – Operations and Development at the Stade de France, operated until 2025 by a company majority-owned by… Vinci (77%, the rest Bouygues).
Vinci… is the same company that on November 29, 2007, signed a PPP with the CCI of the Alpes Maritimes for the construction of a 60,000 m2 car parking at Nice Airport (45 million euros). The then General Director of the CCI was Mr. Auroy.
And the conclusion from the communist political leader: “It illustrates the permeability that exists between the business world and political life. Without passing any penal judgment on this situation, as it is not within my purview, I am bothered by this coincidence and the potential conflict of interest concerning the Nice Stadium.
I invite the competent judicial and political authorities of our city to clarify this curious situation…”
The summer was expected to be hot, it will be scorching….
