We gladly attribute to Patrick Allemand* the authorship of this statement: “We have just shattered the right wing in Nice.” Firstly, because it is his, but also, more so, because we are really not certain that’s the case. In any event, the departure of Olivier Bettati, municipal councilor in charge of the Collines territory, metropolitan and general councilor, from the municipal majority cannot be overlooked and classified among the minor events of yesterday’s tumultuous day.
Firstly, Olivier Bettati, who attended the first part of yesterday’s Municipal Council then left the chamber, justifies his decision primarily by his refusal to vote on the day’s deliberation: “It is clearly intended to muzzle any person or political organization, trade union, or press organ that does not agree with the policy of the outgoing mayor.”
But, while this reason is not insignificant, it is well known that the relationship between the former deputy and Christian Estrosi was never more than one of convenience. This explains another accusation from the former against the latter regarding “a horrible and deleterious atmosphere that the outgoing mayor maintains.”
And all this for… ? In fact, it is merely an open secret (Nice Premium has been mentioning it for months) that the local political microcosm pretends to await the announcement of an electoral list that may include names like Bettati, Concas, Picard, and many others, and which, given the recent episodes concerning Benoรฎt Kandel, may well include one more! The announcement of Olivier Bettati’s resignation from all his positions further strengthens this option’s hypothesis.
Furthermore, the collusion between the two former deputies was clearly demonstrated by the fact that Olivier Bettati’s proxy was in the hands of… Benoรฎt Kandel and thus was used to vote against his former majority’s resolution.
Olivier Bettati also excluded from the UMP like Benoรฎt Kandel? This is far from certain for this loyal supporter of Jean-Franรงois Copรฉ.
However, is the same Kandel still under suspension? The UMP President’s statement mentioned an 8-day suspension during which Benoรฎt Kandel could explain himself. This has been done, and since then it has been total silence. A strange silence given the speed of the suspension when we were far from being in a crisis situation.
Besides, this whole affair presents many black holes. Starting from the scoop (!!!) of the local daily which published the information of the Marine Le Pen-Kandel meeting a few weeks late compared to its actual date, to the immediate sanction of the national UMP against Benoรฎt Kandel, and the stand-by of his disciplinary position after the appeal…
And, what we find not so trivial is the fact that Benoรฎt Kandel’s suspension from the UMP, which led to an immediate exclusion from the Nice Ensemble municipal group, did not have the same consequence in the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes…
We curiously will now study Olivier Bettati’s journey at the General Council (He is a councilor for the 8th canton). Will he resign? Will he be excluded? None of this? We wager on this last option.
In the end, don’t Olivier Bettati and Benoรฎt Kandel have the same silent protector? But, what exactly is happening at the UMP behind this faรงade of unity?
