The last meeting of the Nice Ensemble (UMP-UDI) candidates took place with the presence of local heavyweights. The scent of victory gave a festive air to those present, who were flattered by a very energetic Christian Estrosi: “It is not ‘I’, but it is ‘we’, it is all of us together!” he said, addressing the militants.
With the goal of a sweeping victory within reach, smiles and hugs expressed the satisfaction of the municipal and metropolitan councilors for tripling their public commitment at the departmental level.
In fact, the issue is to determine which of the 9 pairs will be elected directly in the first round and who will have to wait another week.
However, this election, which will naturally reappoint Eric Ciotti as the president of the Departmental Council (the new name for this local body), also has other implications: an expected defeat (but to what extent?) of the left in general and the PS (Socialist Party) in particular, the rise of the FN (National Front), which aims to become, nationally and locally, the most voted party to strengthen its position in the electorate for the 2017 presidential election.
As was the case in the last European elections, the FN as the first party in Nice would be a setback for Christian Estrosi and a rejection of his policy, which local Frontist representatives oppose and systematically criticize in the municipal and metropolitan councils.
The choice to appoint candidates already heavily involved in local public affairs (in some cases with significant responsibilities, like the senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone) aims to lock down all administrative levels.
Last night, the speakers brought out the usual artillery: a head-on attack on the socialist government’s economic policy and the populist proposals of the National Front.
Moreover, Christian Estrosi embarked on a high-wire act of foreign policy, inspired by both the principles of Vladimir Putin’s Novy Russia and Benyamin Netanyahu’s Zionism.
Eric Ciotti, for his part, was not stingy with security ideas and proposals, which are his trademark and which make him an aspiring Fouché of the 21st century.
It remains to be seen if, by Sunday, the voters will follow the euphoric UMP militants or if they will prefer the even more radical message of “marine hope.”
