Two weeks after the City Council that made headlines, it was the turn of the Metropolitan Council on Thursday. The deliberations were significantly delayed due to the usual tensions among politicians.
Ecology ignites the flame
The “ecological transition” was once again central to the heated debates between Christian Estrosi and the opposition.
Ecologist Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux intervened to point out that it was more of a catch-up than a genuine ecological transition. She cited measures undertaken by green mayors as examples. The Council President called the elected official “stupid” and “ridiculous”. He “loves seeing the Greens get agitated” because they “spice up and enflame the session”.
Philippe Vardon from RN accused the mayor of Nice of irresponsibility among politicians and blaming citizens instead of polluting cargo ships. Vardon responded as usual, criticizing the RN for not proposing solutions. With his speaking time restricted to two minutes, Vardon suggested to Mr. Estrosi that they debate at another time.
โNew Provence Cรดte dโAzur Lineโ or High-Speed Line
A new train line should connect the departments of Bouches du Rhรดne, Alpes Maritimes, and Var. The Nice St Augustin station is expected to disappear in favor of a new station at the airport and a “large metropolitan bus station”.
The goal is for travelers to take the train to the airport from 2022. Christian Estrosi also suggested residents get there by bike. We are thus waiting to see him in action, with his luggage on his lap. It might be amusing.
The RN opposed it, particularly due to the astronomical cost. The party favors everyday trains.
Carpooling Assistance
Philippe Pradal, the Deputy President, presented a future partnership with the carpooling platform Bla Bla Car. It would allow drivers to receive aid of up to โฌ5 per trip if they travel between 6 and 50 km per day.
The hitch is that according to Jean Moucheboeuf’s (RN) calculations based on the set budget, only 50 drivers per year would benefit. He concluded that it is more “Estrosi’s blah blah than Bla Bla Car”. Pradal promised the budget would increase if this partnership succeeds.
Christian Estrosi interrupts a Green Deputy and threatens Philippe Vardon from RN
The two opposing parties expressed their views on the Local Urban Plan. However, the Council President took it upon himself to โpolice the sessionโ by cutting off Sylvie Bonaldi’s (EELV) intervention. Five minutes in total were allocated to the party for the group of nine deliberations.
Yet another dispute broke out between the Mayor of Nice and the RN councilor during lunch. As Philippe Vardon was giving his opinion on public consultations organized by the Town Hall, Mr. Estrosi threatened to take him to the court of cassation and exclude him from the Council the next time he speaks without authorization. The Mayor didn’t stop there; he suspended the session due to the behavior of the elected official, as it was already around 2 PM.
Motions against the โHealth Passโ
Green elected officials Sylvie Bonaldi and Jean-Marc Governatori made a motion at the end of the session for the repeal of the โhealth passโ and vaccination freedom.
Sylvie Bonaldi mentioned the names of young victims of the “Covid-19 vaccine”, either dead or severely affected, to raise awareness about side effects. However, she didn’t achieve the desired effect as she was the only one to vote in favor. Jean-Marc Governatori was absent at the time.
The Council President took the opportunity to humiliate her since other Green elected officials did not support her. He also claimed to no longer engage in “politician politics” but to be a “territorial administrator”.
The RN, although opposed to this pass and to mandatory vaccination, did not join in, citing “excess in the drafting” as the reason.
