Just a few more hours, and the suspense will give way to a sigh of relief for the lucky ones and a forced smile for the losers who will necessarily have to be good sports.
Christian Estrosi’s running mates will therefore be presented this evening in an atypical location, a gymnasium, probably chosen for its symbolic value: The competition has been fierce among incumbents, hopefuls, and deserving candidates. A competition in which skill can sometimes trump loyalty.
All of them depend on the goodwill of the master who, by definition, is singular and must decide in the solitude of his responsibility. The personalization of power creates a pyramid form and raises a question: Are we dealing with the election of a simple 21st-century municipal council or a medieval seigneury?
Moreover, when saying elected, it does not only refer to the candidates but, barring an unlikely surprise at the polls, the future deputies and municipal advisors of the majority. Indeed, the last quarter of the list will rather play a figurative role.
Then, each individual will find their place within the setup: Marshals and… Marshales, Generals and Colonels, officers and horsewomen, or even swordsmen and foot soldiers.
Due to strategy, very few have been privy to the composition of the list, with, for the past few days, a shuffle of names and positions culminating in an invitation to appear at the photographer’s for the official portrait yesterday.
They are very discreet, out of respect for the disappointment of some, and yes, they were all there from the beginning of the campaign (and even before), out of a spirit of service for some, and personal ambition for others. But, ultimately, they will remain “on the sidelines” finding it always unjust with a bitter taste and a tear in the eye.
There is no doubt that Christian Estrosi will know how to stage the presentation of the 34 women and 34 men who will form his campaign team. The only real certainties today: Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, Rudy Salles, Philippe Pradal, the deserving first deputy, Lauriano Azinheirinha, Alain Philip, Agnès Rampal. It is also imagined that Robert Roux should make his entry. It is the incumbents about whom there is much speculation and a myriad of names have circulated, and without being a soothsayer, one might perhaps imagine something new in the fields of culture and sport.
Others, new like Jean-Luc Gag who has been publicly presented by the candidate-mayor. And, last night, final decisions still awaited confirmation or refutation such as the presence of the writer Didier van Cauweleart who could be a lovely flourish to the candidate’s lapel.
For the other surprises (and undoubtedly there will be some), meet this evening at 6 pm at the Leyrit gym to see who managed to make their mark… below the hoop!
