In France, we have a unique specificity in the world: we spend one month a year exchanging our best wishes…
Coupled with the accumulation of mandates and roles, this curious tradition quickly becomes ridiculous, costly, and counter-productive.
Let’s take a “random” example: Christian Estrosi. The mayor of Nice, president of the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis, deputy, president of the UMP 06, participated in no less than 23 wishing ceremonies:
– Wishes of Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage
– Wishes of Isola village
– Wishes at the City Hall
– Wishes at the Prefecture
– Wishes to the press
– Wishes of the Armenian Community
– Wishes of Isola 2000
– Wishes of Valdeblore
– Wishes of Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée
– Wishes of Tourettes-Levens
– Wishes of Saint-Martin-Vésubie
– Wishes to cleaning staff
– Wishes of Falicon
– Wishes of Auron
– Wishes of the CCI
– Wishes to retired agents of the city of Nice
– Wishes to the agents of the city of Nice and the metropolis
– Wishes at Roquebillière
– Wishes of Lantosque
– Wishes of the Faculty of Medicine
– Wishes of the UMP 06
– Wishes to neighborhood councils and committees
– Wishes to the Italian community
As a matter of course, the cost of these festivities reaches new heights! Besides the price of the lavish buffets, one must indeed take into account the mobilized staff and the travel expenses of various personalities.
Of course, we must also add the printing and postage costs of the countless invitations and greeting cards sent!
But the saddest part is ultimately the time willingly wasted by certain elected officials who, instead of spending one of twelve months crafting dull speeches, would be wise to work concretely to improve the lives of their voters.
Jean-Christophe Picard, president of the PRG 06
