The prefect of Alpes-Maritimes made disrespectful, unacceptable remarks towards the people of Nice and the city of #Nice. I have asked @manuelvalls to draw the consequences of the prefect’s anti-republican attitude towards us.
It is with these declarations on his Twitter account that Christian Estrosi has simply requested the removal of Nice Prefect Adolphe Colrat, accusing him of “lese majesty” and thus opening an institutional crisis between the state services (which the prefect represents) and the democratically elected official who is the Mayor of Nice.
How did we get here?
This violent diatribe took place, yesterday, during the Security Meetings on the Promenade des Anglais which were supposed to highlight all the state bodies and civil associations working in the sensitive area of security and which, unfortunately, were overshadowed due to this incident.
No one could imagine that the Mayor of Nice would use this opportunity to speak in this manner, even if we know that Christian Estrosi never misses a chance to accuse the socialist government of laxity towards security.
However, security is just one issue among others. In fact, nothing seems to find favor in his eyes when it comes to decisions or actions taken. This is understandable from a political perspective, less so from an institutional one.
However, since he is the mayor of all the people of Nice (including those who mostly did not vote for him, even though he was the candidate who received the most votes and hence won), this systematic opposition to the government does not respect all the political sensibilities of the citizens of Nice.
The case that led to this public stance, leaving one to wonder what the visitors and onlookers (truthfully not very many) present might have understood, stems from remarks made by Adolphe Colrat, Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, during the National Education Department Council on the subject of school rhythms held the day before yesterday.
But evidently, the relations between the two authorities (each for what it represents) have not been in sync for some time and for other reasons. By and large, the Mayor of Nice reproaches the Prefect for not listening to him and not responding to his requests. True? Not true?
Of course, one might understand that when one has been a Minister of the Republic and then becomes a simple opposition deputy, even if the Mayor of the most important city among the 164 communes of the department… The reception might not be what it once was, and one might find it hard to get used to.
Moreover, the perimeter of prefectural competencies is more oriented towards the department than the commune. Incidentally, it should be noted that its president Eric Ciotti had prudently had himself represented on this occasion.
Christian Estrosi’s stance received a very formal response from Prefect Adolphe Colrat who wanted to clarify: “The comments were made in a meeting that was not public, in a context where the responsibility of the State was being questioned since the government’s improvisation was being advanced” before refusing any malfunction of the state services.
And to the Mayor of Nice who declared “I believe Mr. Colrat no longer has the vocation to serve as the representative of the State in the department”, the prefect simply reminded him, “I am a State official, appointed by the Council of Ministers. My fate can be decided every Wednesday (ed: day of the Council’s meeting). We will see what happens next.”
It is clear that Christian Estrosi is on the offensive in many areas at the moment.
We will not go back over the school rhythms issue, which assumed grotesque proportions, culminating in the sale of the residence of the Rectrice (an episode of no importance but which proves, if need be, the point of no return), or the mobilizations of rural mayors and the sports community.
More recently, tensions have also risen with Escota due to delays in ongoing work on the Boulevard du Mercantour and the toll of the Nice bypass section.
Then, the ongoing dispute with the President of the PACA Region, Michel Vauzelle, regardless of the subject in vogue from the tramway to the great stadium.
Now, a new front opens with Prefect in the crosshairs.
And there are still people who believe that Nice is a beautiful and peaceful seaside city of the Mediterranean!
By the way, why not a twinning with Palermo, another Mediterranean seaside city?
In the frame below, you can read a more extensive statement from the Mayor of Nice.
