François Fillon held his first major campaign rally in Nice since his triumph in the right-wing primary.
Nothing unusual there, it was almost a given: isn’t this city and its department known for offering the best scores for right-wing candidates across all elections?
It must be said that this time the large crowds were not in attendance: a full hall, but nothing comparable to the rallies where Sarkozy would officiate with his art of deception but also his enchanting magnetism.
It was also an opportunity for François Fillon to appear alongside two local right-wing barons and their vassals.
No issue from Eric Ciotti who, as Nicolas Sarkozy’s spokesperson, quickly converted on the night of the first round (“Thank you to Nicolas Sarkozy for his great campaign, I call for support for François Fillon,” which even caused a stir) to amend this “mistake” in anticipation of the composition of the future government, in which he is clearly aiming for participation.
Moreover, if his speech gave the impression of allegiance more than support, the closing line “François, France needs you” rather sounded like an invocation…
With Christian Estrosi, things weren’t the same: it’s said the two don’t like each other and in politics, grudges persist.
In fact, in his speech, the words of the former mayor of Nice were like blades: after asserting his support for Nicolas Sarkozy, he declared strongly, “I am a friend of François Fillon, I am not a Fillonist,” while criticizing those who became one “overnight.”
And he criticized the candidate’s “social” program, claiming his freedom of speech: a social Gaullist against a straightforward Gaullist, essentially.
As for François Fillon, he reiterated his intention to stand firm in his boots.
In a firm but calm tone, he urged activists “to uphold their values.”
“I was elected on a program and there is not one program for the primary, one for the presidential, and another for the legislative elections,” he asserted with conviction.
Before assuring: “You can count on me not to change! I am fighting to revive our country, not to scheme with it, and once in power, to slip through the net. Yes, the radical nature of my project exposes me to criticism, against the soft, the vague.”
And to conclude on this point: “I want to revive France.”
