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This morning, the first City Council since the second round of the election took place. Christian Estrosi was officially inaugurated as the mayor of Nice with 56 out of the 63 votes cast. A new term that will focus on anticipation, ecology, and freedom of expression.
During the occasion of Christian Estrosi’s reinstallation as mayor, the roadmap of the majority for the next six years was discussed. One of the main objectives will be to continue the project of making Nice the green city of the Mediterranean. To achieve this, a development plan for 70 hectares of parks and gardens is expected to be implemented soon, with the aim of reducing the temperature in the city center. The mayor also emphasized his desire to increase the city’s energy independence through the use of sustainable and renewable sources. The issue of 100% clean public transportation by 2025 was discussed.
One of the major announcements concerns the tax reduction expected as early as this September, with a 9.5% decrease in property tax. Despite the emergence of the health crisis that has abruptly shaken the economic world, Christian Estrosi affirms: “We will not change anything. It has been a trajectory since 2008, and we will not stop it. We will have to possibly adapt it, through dialogue, by listening, by making moves from one side or the other, making small retreats when necessary or big advances. This clearly shows that we are determined to face challenges; we are determined to go as far as possible.”
The opposition speaks up
Once the action plan was presented, it was the turn of the new opposition to speak. For this new term, it will be represented by Philippe Vardon (RN) and Jean-Marc Governatori (Nice Écologique), who, based on their results from the second round of the municipal election, together represent 13 out of the 69 seats in the City Council. The first of them, who represents the opposition leader with seven elected officials, made sure to extend “his most sincere republican congratulations” to the mayor and the entire Council, while reminding everyone that he was elected by one in six voters and that “the record abstention (during the second round) must call us all to unity.” Mr. Vardon also urged the mayor to “reconnect with dialogue and listening. An absence of listening highlighted by the recent episode of the yellow lanes demonstrated both its necessity and absence.” The tone is set!
On his part, Jean-Marc Governatori also congratulated Christian Estrosi on his election. Subsequently, the Nice Écologique leader warned his audience, explaining that in these difficult times, “the unthinkable is possible.” His words referred to the COVID-19 epidemic, the yellow vests protests, and especially the terrorist attack on July 14, 2016. He thereby called on the mayor to anticipate a possible food or energy crisis. “We want Nice to become an ecological model, and our City Council has a huge responsibility. We will be a vigilant but constructive, respectful, and very active opposition.”
