Jacques Peyrat bids farewell to politics and does not hide his sadness: “It is a fact that, last Sunday, there was a disavowal of the electorate towards me. I am drawing the consequences and I will not stand for another election.”
Clearly, the blow was harsh and difficult to assimilate, but, as an experienced man, the former mayor should know that in politics, the verses of Rudyard Kipling’s poem “IF” are more relevant than ever: “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same…”
So, as the final act of a well-filled career and before leaving the political world, Jacques Peyrat wanted to speak the truth one more time, his truth.
“In the context of the second round of the Nice municipal elections that will take place on Sunday, March 30, I urge the people of Nice to go to the polls and vote for Olivier Bettati and his list, as I myself will. Because I love Nice and its people, it is imperative to form a real opposition to the future majority of Mr. Estrosi, who will continue in wastefulness and demagogy.” The message is clear and unambiguous.
“Indeed, Patrick Allemand without Robert Injey will be inaudible, and Ms. Arnautu will be absent. Therefore, only Olivier Bettati, a Niçois, and an experienced elected official on the Municipal Council, the Community Council, and the General Council, along with his fellow list members including Benoît Kandel, can represent a real opposition to the over-indebtedness of Nice and the Metropolis, as well as to the aberration of the underground tramway project which is unacceptable due to its exorbitant cost and geological risk.” The last salvo of soldier Peyrat was thus directed at his ultimate political opponent.
It remains to be seen how many of the 4,239 (3.69%) who supported Jacques Peyrat in the first round will follow this voting directive to the letter?
