The summer university of UDI Paca brought together a roomful of elected representatives and activists for conferences and debates on current topics: the NOTRe law, which is currently reshaping the landscape of institutional levels and their competencies; Brexit, which, due to the United Kingdom’s exit, foreshadows a questioning of European construction as we know it today; the uberization of society that will change our life model in the near future.
Subjects that will impact the functioning of institutions and the relationship between citizens and elected officials, which require reflection and preparation if we do not want anti-politics and populism to take advantage of it for their propaganda and success by exploiting the psychological void of the weakest but also the most numerous layers of the population.
An opportunity also for a centrist party to reflect and prepare for upcoming internal deadlines (election of departmental and then national governing bodies after the summer) and presidential/legislative elections in 2017.
Rudy Salles and the irremovable president of UDI 06, the only departmental deputy external to LR, a staunch ally of Christian Estrosi.
We asked him a few questions to which he kindly agreed to respond.
Jean Christophe Lagarde wants to develop “ideas that are dear to us” to describe the actions of UDI, what are they?
UDI is a social, liberal, and European party. Social because it is close to people in difficulty and listens to everyone. Liberal because, to develop the economy, we want to focus on the market and private companies, as they are the ones that create jobs. And European for diversity because today, we can no longer live isolated in our culture and territory.
In the short term, projecting towards the 2017 presidential elections, what are the party’s objectives at the regional level?
We want, as a priority, to revive the economy by lowering the currently exuberant burdens. This requires regional study but also within local authorities.
At the national level?
We are currently a minority in the National Assembly. We can influence at a certain level but can’t make important decisions. We hope to change this and are preparing for the 2017 presidential elections to regain the majority.
You describe yourself as a European party, what do you think of the current state of the European Union?
There is not enough Europe. It is poorly organized, too technocratic, and not democratic enough.
Do you wish to reform Europe?
I am a European activist and yes, I am for reforming Europe. Europeans need to be protected, and above all, we must stop blaming Brussels when things go wrong and then, when everything goes well, saying it is thanks to national governments. Brussels is unfairly judged.
Thibault Bourru
