The storm “Christian” was devastating and caused significant damage after its passage. The recent weather bulletin could well apply to Benoît Kandel, former deputy mayor of Nice in charge of security, metropolitan councilor, and general councilor.
In the span of a few weeks, one of the strongmen of Christian Estrosi’s team, and moreover a general councilor of the UMP from the French Riviera, went from being a notable figure to being hunted down and soon a “persona non grata”.
What happened? Firstly, a significant interview in the major local newspaper on the Semiacs case of which he was the president, following what could be briefly described as the Alonzo affair, which resulted in his removal from his position as deputy mayor and being stripped of all his duties. His only reaction was: “For some time, Christian Estrosi wanted my head,” suggesting that the motive was just an excuse.
Then, last weekend, an article published in the major regional local newspaper (And the second…) reported on a possible meeting between the same Benoît Kandel and Marine Le Pen at the FN’s summer university in Marseille, last September (An information that comes in handy!) or even a hypothetical attempt on his part to contact Jean-Marie Le Pen during his visit to the region, these past few days.
The sanction was quick to come, and with surprising speed, the President of the Party Jean-François Copé (who was not expected to have constant oversight on the life of the Nice party) decided to suspend Benoît Kandel for “collusion with the enemy” (referencing his former status as a colonel of the national gendarmerie).
This sanction was immediately endorsed by the president of the Nice municipal majority group, Ensemble pour Nice, Pierre-Paul Leonelli, whereas a similar sanction at the General Council level has not yet been announced… Could there be an internal code of discipline with variable geometry in the Riviera’s local authorities?
And what if, by chance, this information is false and the facts are unverified? Doesn’t the UMP have a few good lawyers?
Benoît Kandel, on his part, counters all that has happened to him with a silence whose reason is hard to discern. Does he not realize that a “political” manhunt is open against him to oust him from the circle but also discredit him in case of new ambitions elsewhere?
Isn’t it better to tell “his” truth and silence the increasingly freely circulating rumors about him? Is he bound by secrecy for some reason?
After his eviction from the deputy mayor position, Benoît Kandel commented on his meeting with Christian Estrosi by saying: “We said things that I will keep to myself.”
This time, he wasn’t much more talkative: “I have not received any letter from the UMP. No contact with a party official. Strange methods.” He commented.
Isn’t it said that silence is golden?
UMP Statement:
“As Benoît KANDEL has, in no way, sought to deny the information reported by the Nice-Matin newspaper about his potential pledge to support the National Front and since he maintains confusion and disunity among militants and voters, he does not uphold the political line defined by the UMP.”
Furthermore, the UMP clarifies: “Jean-François Copé has decided to suspend Benoît KANDEL from the UMP, who must now provide his written explanations within 8 days. After this deadline, the Political Bureau will review this measure taken against him in order to reach a final decision. Meanwhile, Benoît KANDEL can no longer claim his affiliation to the UMP.”
