The City of Nice will not commemorate March 19. UMP deputy mayor Christian Estrosi announced to representatives of veteran and repatriate associations that he would oppose the implementation of a prefectural circular.
In this letter dated February 19, the prefect reminds all mayors of the Alpes-Maritimes that the law “of December 6, 2012 instituted March 19 as the National Day of Remembrance and Reflection in memory of the civilian and military victims of the Algerian war and the battles in Tunisia and Morocco.”
Consequently, “a ceremony must be organized at the department’s capital or at the departmental AFN monument, if applicable” and “public buildings must be decked with flags.”
There is no such question for Christian Estrosi: “I will not comply with the recommendations of this circular and the City of Nice will not be adorned with flags.”
The mayor says he is “ready to bear all the consequences” that his defiance might entail.
Reaction of Patrick ALLEMAND, Municipal and Metropolitan Councillor/
President of the “Changer d’ère” and “Socialists, Greens and Republicans” groups
The law establishing March 19, 1962, as a national day of commemoration, after heated debates, was adopted. It has become a law of the Republic that must be applied throughout the territory of the Republic, including in Nice.
The refusal of the mayor of Nice to have our city participate in the republican celebrations of March 19, while specifying “taking responsibility for his defiance,” is a serious act.
That it slightly ridicules its author, who dared to exclaim, on October 23, 2012, “Long live French Algeria” is one thing. To claim General De Gaulle, the man of March 19, 1962, and want to transform his city, at the time of appeasement and healing of wounds, into a sanctuary of the OAS, is a paradox. A paradox that reminds us that the man has no convictions.
But that a national representative takes responsibility for not respecting the law he helps to draft as a member of parliament in the National Assembly is even graver. What example does the mayor set for the youth of Nice? How can he then have credibility vis-à-vis the young people to whom he addresses reminders of the law if he himself decides to disregard it at his convenience? By acting in this way, Christian Estrosi defies the republican order and legitimizes delinquents.
Finally, Nice is French and not Estrosist. He cannot act as if the city had become his personal property. Nice becomes the hostage of its mayor, and this immature particularism is becoming an increasing handicap for our city.
Marie-Luz Hernandez-Nicaise (EE-LV): Mr. Estrosi refuses the commemoration of the Evian Accords!
On March 18, 1962, the French government, under the presidency of General De Gaulle, signed an agreement with the Algerian FLN. This agreement recognized the independence of Algeria and initiated a ceasefire that took effect on March 19.
This agreement put an end to a conflict that had lasted since 1954 and had caused mourning for thousands of French and Algerian families.
Unfortunately, it was the end of the war only in words, largely because of the FLN (execution of tens of thousands of Harkis) and the blind terrorism of the illegal OAS forces.
Bloody attacks followed by equally lethal reprisals signaled a massive exodus from Algeria of those who would be called “pieds-noirs.”
The Evian Accords deserve to be recognized for what they were: an act of political courage by the French government, which was endorsed by 90.7% of the French in the April 8, 1962 referendum. I voted for it, and it was an immense relief.
The law of December 6 establishing March 19 as a “national day of remembrance and reflection in memory of the civilian and military victims” of the Maghreb wars does not distinguish between good and evil. This tribute to so many deaths has been long overdue.
By his refusal and the statements explaining it, Christian Estrosi positions himself alongside a terrorist organization responsible for bloody attacks and remains in line with his recent xenophobic remarks and his declaration as anachronistic as it is sectarian on October 20: “Long live French Algeria!”
Mr. Estrosi’s stance is unworthy of an elected representative of the Republic.
I sincerely wish that the prefect would organize in NICE a ceremony of remembrance, which I would be honored to attend.
