Our regional daily, lacking weapons but always a very good recipient of leaked information, had already reported it… the day before! The statement from the Mayor of Nice and President of the Metropolis (see the essential part of the text below) confirms it and calls for no comment, except to highlight the return to Nice of the former Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes (and former Chief of Staff of Christian Estrosi at the Ministry of Industry), considered a loyalist*. For him, it will be a return after a somewhat “pushed” departure.
More surprising, although fully legitimate, is the shift of Alain Philip from the role of an elected official (… and a significant one) to that of a high-ranking civil servant. Surely, it’s not his competence to hold this position that’s in question, but rather the opportuneness of changing roles during a term.
But no one is obliged to apply the principles of Kantian ethics to the letter.
Extract from the Statement
Anne Boquet, Prefect and General Director of Services for the City of Nice and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, has informed me that, as of this week, due to a surgical procedure preceding a convalescence period, she is no longer able to fulfill her current responsibilities. Jean-Robert Lefèvre, Deputy to the General Director of Services, will act on an interim basis until August 1, 2014.
On that date, I have requested from the Ministry of the Interior the secondment of Prefect Jean-Michel Drevet, so that he becomes the General Director of Services for the City and the Metropolis. He is a highly experienced civil servant, who has held many positions and is well acquainted with our territory as he was previously the Secretary-General of the Prefecture and then the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes.
I have desired, in agreement with him, that he be accompanied in this task by a Director General of Technical Services who is also very familiar with the realities on the ground and the current key projects. Therefore, I have requested Alain Philip, Deputy Mayor in charge of Roadways, Works, and Urban Planning and Metropolitan Councilor, to take on this responsibility. Thus, he will be required to submit his resignation from his duties as Deputy to the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes in the coming hours.
