“In accordance with Article 34 of its statutes, the Union for a Popular Movement has today suspended Jacques Peyrat, a dissenting candidate in the municipal elections of Nice.
As a result, he cannot claim the support of the UMP, nor use the “UMP” logo during the campaign for the upcoming municipal and cantonal elections on March 9 and 16.”
Patrick DEVEDJIAN
Secretary General of the UMP
Reactions
Jacques Peyrat, Senator Mayor of Nice and candidate dissenting from the UMP
“I was informed by the press of the UMP’s decision to suspend me from the Union for a Popular Movement following the nomination given in Nice to Christian Estrosi for the municipal elections.
I deeply regret this decision. I find it unfair, just as I found it unfair that the National Nomination Commission ruled against me.
Elsewhere, UMP incumbents who present a good track record are reappointed. Why is this rule not applied in Nice?
However, my track record is excellent and guarantees the continuation of the projects that are the foundation of my program. I explained the legitimacy of my candidacy to the members of the UMP's national nomination commission, as a party member who is a serious and diligent parliamentarian, always committed to supporting the Government.
I emphasize the importance of track record because it should not be underestimated. The city which I managed was in a very precarious economic and financial situation in 1995. Since my first election that year, I have strived to catch up: repaying the numerous loans that had put our city on the brink of bankruptcy, restoring its investment capacity without increasing taxes on households or businesses were my goals...
Looking back, I am proud of the work done with my colleagues and of the facilities built that the residents of Nice use every day. The tramway is the best example.
Proud also of having succeeded, by crossing the Var, in bringing together 24 municipalities in a common destiny thanks to the Nice Côte d'Azur Urban Community.
Today, I say it is all too easy to want to collect a legacy while forgetting who is responsible for it.
I add that I have always acted with the same loyalty to the values and political ideals of the Right and the Republic that have guided me all my life.
Accessing the honor of being Mayor of Nice without endorsement in 1995, I joined the Rally for the Republic in 1996 out of consistency with my political commitment. I was elected to the National Assembly in 1997 and to the Senate in 1998 and then re-elected mayor of Nice always with the same commitment to the party I had joined. It was also under the UMP banner that I campaigned determinedly for its president, who has since become our President of the Republic.
I have always been loyal to the RPR and the UMP, participating in parliamentary work both in the National Assembly and the Senate with an unwavering will to defend the Government's projects and the legislative proposals presented by my parliamentary colleagues in accordance with the values that inspire the major political choices of the Union for a Popular Movement.
I thought that the work accomplished would at least be recognized. This is not the case.
I am therefore particularly disappointed by this decision to suspend me from a political formation that I have always served with seriousness and loyalty.
I leave it to the voters to judge this political episode which I can only regret.
From now on, my only party is Nice. As I said, the only endorsement that matters is that of the residents of Nice who will have to decide on March 9 and 16 next.»
Patrick Mottard, dissenting socialist candidate, expelled from the PS
“Regarding the suspension of Jacques Peyrat, I have no role in commenting on a decision of the UMP. However, I cannot help but draw a parallel with my own situation: the UMP suspends while the PS expels. The Socialist Party is therefore the last party in France to expel. The socialist that I remain makes this bitter observation. For the rest, nothing changes. It has been known for a long time that we will have two primaries: one on the left and one on the right. And it is the voters who will decide.”
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Patrick Allemand, (Press Release), candidate of the PS
“The domestic squabbles within the UMP are not of interest to the left, but unfortunately, they are of interest to the people of Nice. Because they are the ones who suffer. What is shocking in this affair is that the people of Nice are the main victims of the fratricidal war being waged between the mayor and the president of the General Council.
The department is blocked because Christian Estrosi, 3 days a week in Paris or in the islands and 4 days campaigning, is no longer managing it.
The city of Nice too, because the war within the City Council between pro-Estrosi and pro-Peyrat paralyzes all municipal action.
There is enough of seeing the people of Nice taken hostage by a quarrel of personal ambitions. I call on them to punish the irresponsibility of the UMP and to turn the page. This is also to put an end to these practices that Nice deserves to ‘change era’.”
Rudy Salles, deputy of the Alpes Maritimes, New Centre, ally of Christian Estrosi, candidate UMP
“The UMP has decided to invest Christian Estrosi for the upcoming municipal elections in Nice who has committed to embodying the alternation and the gathering of the majority. Naturally, this party cannot allow a dissenting candidate to claim its support. This is why this suspension has naturally been pronounced in a concern for clarity and transparency towards the voters of Nice.”
Jean-Christophe Picard, candidate PRG of the list ‘Nice rainbow’ (MoDem, PRG
and MEI)
Intolerable cynicism
We note that the UMP has suspended Jacques Peyrat neither for having accumulated
nauseous verbal slippages, nor for having left the city mired in
scandals, nor for having declared before the presidential election that he
would unhesitatingly vote for the FN candidate in a Le Pen/Royal run-off
in the second round.”
No, the UMP suspends him solely because he would not give up his place to
Nicolas Sarkozy’s favorite in exchange for a new senatorial mandate
and the presidency of the Senate’s foreign affairs commission!
This cynicism is all the more intolerable as it concerns elective mandates. It
is to be feared that this type of action will further discredit
parties.”
Decidedly, our list ‘Nice rainbow’ is right in wanting to change
political practices!”
Gael Nofri, Candidate various-Right Second Canton of Nice and supporter of Jacques Peyrat
The suspension of Jacques PEYRAT from the UMP is not a surprise. Indeed, we are talking about a party that, although claiming to embody openness, diversity, democracy, and pluralism, actually imposes a real dictatorship. Of course, the Parisian bigwigs of this party cannot imagine for a moment that their goodwill does not quite meet the expectations of the local population.
Jacques PEYRAT is the best candidate for Nice and its people because he is the only one with a concrete, sustainable and modern vision of the city and its territory. His action has proven it to us, I am sure that his program will also testify to this modernizing vision….
For all these reasons, one cannot imagine that the withdrawal of a label is of any importance for the fate of municipal action. Candidate of the gathering and candidate of the defense of the interests of the City and the Azuréens, Jacques PEYRAT will be the candidate of the only label that counts: Nice.
