Christian Estrosi, departmental president of UMP06, presented the 8 candidates from Nice for the upcoming cantonal elections. A large assembly of Party members, activists, supporters, and friends… and quite a few curious onlookers attended this first event of an election campaign that promises to be intense.
“Tempura labuntur,” said Ovid. And indeed, Christian Estrosi has left behind the manner fitting for a Minister to don the attire of a troop leader for the upcoming electoral event, the 2011 Cantonales (March 20-27), where 8 seats will be up for grabs in the various districts of the city of Nice.
The objective is simple: win them all!
With the election of UMP candidates (incumbent or new) in already-held cantons or those going to conquer those with an incumbent from the opposition. To date, the situation is of parity (4 to 4), so it is immediately apparent that the objective is ambitious and requires a precise strategy, an effective plan, and quality candidates.
According to the “former Minister and future Deputy (in a few days he will return to the National Assembly)” and mayor of Nice, all these conditions are met. He wants to rely on his track record and ongoing program to ask Nice’s voters for a vote of confidence for the candidates who will carry the “Nice Ensemble” label, referring to the “Niçois patriotism”!
Following Christian Estrosi’s rallying speech (but one has to motivate the future fighters), speeches by Rudy Salles (who confirmed the allegiance of the Nouveau Centre Party to the UMP) and Eric Ciotti, President of the General Council (with an opening on his now-customary theme of security), highlighted the necessity for future elected officials to be “transmission belts” between the department’s global policy and local projects. They must, therefore, share the political sensitivity of the majority.
In short, “bellum omnium contra omnes” wrote Thomas Hobbes in “De Cive”, the English philosopher opposing Descartes, for whom the state of social nature is the imposition of man over others.
Viewed from this angle, one might easily think that the first quarter of 2011 will not be a time of… peaceful season for local political life.
Here are the UMP candidates for the 2011 cantonal elections in the City of Nice (14 cantons, 8 of which are renewable):
Canton 3: Philippe Rossini
Canton 5: Catherine Moreau (NC)
Canton 7: Bernard Baudin
Canton 8: Olivier Bettati
Canton 10: Bernard Asso
Canton 11: Daniel Benchimol
Canton 12: Benoit Kandel
Canton 14: Dominique Estrosi-Sassone
