We will avoid the many and ultimately unexciting interpretations of official documents to determine whether the behavior of the Minister-Mayor complies with regulatory obligations or not. We are even less interested in whether one of the two apartments is actually (co-)inhabited by one of Christian Estrosi’s daughters or whether the Minister uses them alternately according to his needs or personal choices. Furthermore, we feel we can say that those who rushed to Christian Estrosi’s defense, trying to portray the modest level of the livable area and quality (supported by a photo gallery), ultimately did not act in his honor.
Judging by what we have read, it is very likely that the rule was adhered to the letter. But should the behavior of a public figure, a Minister and Mayor no less, be limited to mere compliance with regulations? Is there not a moral obligation to have exemplary conduct from an ethical standpoint? For us, the answer is unequivocal: yes. We won’t even appeal to the concepts and words of Aristotle in “Nicomachean Ethics” (Ethica ad Nichomacum), where the philosopher explains how and why, in public life (polis), morality is an integral part of politics. We will simply stick to a matter of common sense and good taste.
We are indifferent to determining whether 60 or 80 square meters of living space is sufficient or if, not being so, additional square meters should be added in another place, or whether the quality of the furniture is appropriate for a Minister or if its modest value warrants other compensations. We think that one, and only one, dwelling of a suitable size and standard, which the interested party has validated by accepting it, should suffice to meet the criteria for official accommodation to which a Minister is entitled. This is where Christian Estrosi made a slight mistake in requesting or accepting this dual accommodation, and his political intelligence (of which we have no doubt he has plenty) should advise him to relinquish it voluntarily.
The newspapers and media that covered this event did their job well by highlighting this situation, even though some played a defense attorney role that was not theirs, forgetting that sometimes patriotism harms more than it serves. We believe that those, whether last-minute moralists or political opponents, who called for Christian Estrosi’s resignation from his ministerial position for this “venial sin” are simply ridiculous and that these types of individuals are more dangerous than useful.
Finally, Christian Estrosi should beware of having too many friends because embraces sometimes conceal a few murderous hands. What is clear in this affair, however, is that Christian and Dominique Estrosi’s daughter should be considered completely unrelated to this matter, and the fact that she occupies one of the two official apartments allocated to her Minister-Father should be classified as a strictly personal affair and that she is entitled to respect for her person and her private life.
We can only hope that this page will be quickly turned because its lack of significance does not warrant such attention. Lastly, we would like to advise Christian Estrosi for his future real estate choices to apply the counsel given by the Vatican Constitution (Pastor Bonus), which calls for ‘scientia et prudentia’ in the exercise of public duties.
