The right-wing faction in Nice seems to have lost its republican compass. Until now, France’s foreign policy and the fight against terrorism have escaped political quarrels, resulting in a beneficial national unity.
The departure of our youth for jihad is a complex phenomenon, with multiple causes, which needs to be calmly analyzed and faced with all appropriate measures, without any complacency. The resurgence of this phenomenon calls for seriousness and a sense of responsibility from each public decision-maker. The debate can and should take place but within a republican framework, without exacerbating resentments and without slander, stigmatization, or peremptory accusations.
Christian Estrosi, deputy mayor of Nice, published an op-ed on Facebook and convened a press conference yesterday accusing the government of laxity in the face of rising terrorism. The deliberately provocative tone, “Jihad: I Accuse,” and the anxiety-inducing imagery add a populist dimension to the message, with obvious electoral aims. His publication on Facebook resulted in 2,432 “likes,” 679 shares, and 389 comments in one day.
Christian Estrosi announced the creation of a municipal unit for listening to and supporting families confronted with the departure of one of their own, and he accused the government of it.
Philippe Vardon, leader of the local identitarian movement, escalated the matter by accusing the Mayor of Nice in turn: “on the local level, the policy of collaboration with the UOIF implemented by Christian Estrosi – which has gradually brought many Nice mosques under Islamist control and made it his preferred interlocutor – is not without connection to the evident radicalization of many Muslims residing in Nice.”
The frontal accusation against the government by the Mayor prompted the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes to respond by explaining the actions taken.
I do not claim the government is exemplary in all things, and I have issued severe criticisms against it when I deemed it necessary (read here and here). However, the argument developed by Christian Estrosi does not bring any new solutions not already being implemented, does not point out any measure taken during Nicolas Sarkozy’s mandate which François Hollande wrongly abolished, nor does it mention any measure effectively applied in a neighboring country facing the same difficulties and not applied in France.
I add that if Christian Estrosi was aware of criminal acts such as the recruitment of youths by cultural or religious associations, he has a legal obligation to report them to the Public Prosecutor (article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure) and not just make accusations on the internet.
Finally, any attempt at political exploitation of such tragedies and any unwarranted challenge to the role of the State in this matter is unworthy of a Nation’s representative and the first magistrate of the fifth largest city in France.
by David Nakache
