This election highlighted the divide between the two political lines within the Les Républicains party: the popular-social line embodied by Christian Estrosi and the clerico-identity line championed by Eric Ciotti.
The former aims for a constructive approach, leaning towards the reformist policies of Emmanuel Macron and his government; the latter positions himself as an uncompromising opponent.
Another point of division is their stance towards the National Front: while Christian Estrosi advocates for a relentless fight, the future former president of the Departmental Council is more nuanced and does not oppose aligning with the Front’s electorate on certain issues (immigration, security).
The two strongmen of the local right also clash on a personal level and no longer hide their differences.
Christian Estrosi, highly critical, called on Sunday for “a debate on the party’s line, its values, and the trust to be given to the government (…) starting tomorrow” following the party’s “heaviest defeat.”
“For weeks, along with some, we have been warning the LR leadership about the programmed failure of the strategy. We were not heard, and we are paying the price,” added his protégé Marine Brenier during the public meeting on election night.
Just a little over a kilometer away, his rival celebrated his victory in front of his supporters: “Tonight, I demonstrate that victory is possible without compromise.”
And he added, “Our political family is undergoing a defeat, from which all consequences must be drawn. The time for clarification and reconstruction will come, and I will fully take part in it.”
Before uttering an enigmatic phrase: “Those whose behavior made us lose deputies no longer have a place in our family.”
In the background, his supporters chanted “mayor, mayor.”
Has the 2020 municipal campaign already begun?
by Paternoster
