On Friday evening, the leaders of Les Républicains (LR) in Alpes-Maritimes gathered in front of the activists in Antibes to take stock. This was the first meeting of this scale for the former UMP with one watchword: stay united to triumph.
Benoît Hartnagel hopes “to see a real unity, we must avoid quarrels and find solutions.” A militant since the creation of the UMP, this 46-year-old man expects something different from the recent past of his party, marked by the Fillon-Copé war and various scandals.
The politicians present agreed with this direction. From the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, to that of Antibes, Jean Léonetti, including Eric Ciotti and Rudy Salles, all spoke with one voice. “Together,” “gathered,” “united,” the idea was to turn the page on the UMP and rebuild a family without a crack. “I am here as a friend, as a partner,” stated UDI deputy Rudy Salles, who was categorical: “For me, it will be in union or nothing at all.” Eric Ciotti (LR), President of the Departmental Council, did not forget the importance of the activists: “Thank you for being there, you and your selflessness for years.”
The success of the departmental elections was praised one after the other at the podium, but the end-of-year regional elections also dominated the discussions. The rallying around Christian Estrosi, the LR-UDI list leader for this occasion, was reiterated excessively. “He must not [lack] a single vote,” announced Jean Leonetti; “Let’s launch the battle with Christian from Antibes,” even shouted Mr. Ciotti;
Socialists and Frontists Given a Rough Time
The departmental secretary Michèle Tabarot mentioned the two main guidelines of the party both internally and across France, “gathering and reconquering.” Both go hand in hand, and the politicians did not fail to highlight “the perfect organization of the primaries and the legitimate victory of N. Sarkozy by the militants.”
If the latter are at the heart of the party’s new image, everyone took time to criticize their opponents. “The seal of the National Front on the region would be a humiliation, we do not have the right to lose,” claims Jean Leonetti when Eric Ciotti talks about their obligation not to let “PACA become a dark stain on the map of France.” The socialist government, for its part, would be the cause of the country’s woes. “[They] are never short of ideas to butcher France,” according to Ms. Tabarot.
Christian Estrosi also used strong words. For his “fight against all extremes and the Le Pen clan”; to evoke the difficult times experienced during the UMP era, even wondering “if we were going to die”; and to solidify this union unique to the Républicains allied with the UDI: “I will seek the broadest possible union. We will win together” because “you are authentic,” he addressed their supporters.
Loud applause, no dissident voice, and a united rendition of the Marseillaise, the mission to reconquer is off to a good start in the Alpes-Maritimes.
