The quarrel over Christian Estrosi’s spending on New Year’s greetings to public agents has taken a turn that far exceeds the facts and takes on a political dimension that should not exist.
We know that Christian Estrosi does not have sobriety as his personal motto, but, in the end, who can forget that people prefer a warm pat on the back to a formal handshake?
Yes, the evening was somewhat like “Nicewood,” with elected officials and authorities called onto the stage in hierarchical order and positioned in a circle like the king’s foot soldiers, with a film that showcased the same achievements of yesterday and those of tomorrow, featuring speakers with somewhat fawning tones.
But let’s not be naive; propaganda is an essential ingredient of any political event.
Yes, the spectacle that followed, beyond the artistic performance, was a lapse in good taste, even more than an excessive budgetary expense. Sometimes, a glass of wine and a slice of cake do the job well enough!
That the opposition seizes this blunder to turn it into a case is also part of the rules of the game.
What borders on the ridiculous is the motivation of the mayor of Nice’s staff (who, given his multiple public mandates, we imagine was not involved in organizing the evening): the initiative was allegedly aimed at boosting the purchasing power of those present by offering them a show they could not have attended otherwise.
It surely took a lot of brainstorming to get to that point!
In these cases, it’s better to own up and stay silent. Otherwise, one becomes like the zealots of the Jewish Bible, who, in their fervor, reach the point of blindness.
