Jacques Peyrat invited the press to his office in city hall. After the announcement by Christian Estrosi (UMP) that he would resign from the government if elected and the reaction from Patrick Allemand (PS), Peyrat also wanted to give his opinion on the matter. He agrees with the candidate from the “Changez d’ère” list, believing that Christian Estrosi preempted his removal from the government: “With Patrick Devedjian’s questioning summons, we understood the nature of Christian Estrosi’s candidacy. The French government felt that they could do without his services. His role as Secretary of State was not thrilling for the populations of the French overseas departments and territories.”
The Senator Mayor of Nice reminded everyone that he came in second place and that next Sunday’s three-way contest is different from what was expected: “It’s not the anticipated duel between UMP and the Socialists. It’s the Estrosi-Peyrat duel. It’s a completely stupid fratricidal duel. We could have finished last night, and Nice would have had its mayor.”
How does he plan to make up the 12% gap in votes compared to Christian Estrosi? He hopes to convince non-voters: “My reserve of votes is in the 42% who did not vote. It is also in the orphaned lists ranging from the far left to the far right. We are not in a politicized election. This is an election of territorial management. There are reserves of votes in the lists of Hervé Caël, Patrick Mottard, Lydia Schénardi. I am convinced that everyone will decide without partisan spirit, or ideological spirit.” Adding amused, in response to Christian Estrosi, who called on Jacques Peyrat’s voters to join him: “I would not have the audacity to call his voters to vote for me since they are prisoners of their partisan political ideology.”
And if that wasn’t enough to convince, he revealed two secret weapons aimed at left-wing voters: “This third term requires me to change. We need to end the systematic right-left confrontation in the city council and at least in territorial management. If I were elected, I would want to offer vice-presidential posts in the community council to left-wing individuals from my city council or other councils from other localities. Perhaps we should also offer a vice-presidential post to the opposition in the Communal Center for Social Action. We also need to create an Azurean sustainable development foundation. I would give the presidency of its preliminary setup to the opposition.” Jacques Peyrat did not hide that all this constituted an olive branch to Patrick Mottard.
