In a common surge of ‘nissartitude’, all political groups in the Metropolis found themselves on the same political wavelength regarding the project to privatize the Nice Côte d’Azur airport.
The opposition voted for (or abstained from voting on) the motion presented by Christian Estrosi opposing the “privatization” of the airport company advocated by the Minister of Economy Emmanuel Macron. No dissenting voice was expressed.
In contrast, the referendum (which will only be a non-legally binding consultation with doubts about its legitimacy due to its organization) for the people of Nice was the subject of a dispute for multiple reasons, two of which seem major: One being that since all political groups are in agreement, the response to the request already exists, and the other is that it is not only the people of Nice whose opinion should be sought. If the airport impacts a vast territory, why should other “stakeholders” be excluded? Christian Estrosi announced that the communes of the metropolis will express themselves through motions from their municipal councils.
But what about the extra-muros metropolitan communes? Two examples for everyone: Cannes, where the airport for private traffic is located, and the aerodrome of Saint-Tropez?
A participatory democracy on a variable scale: citizens of Nice are consulted directly, those of the Metropolis through their municipal council, and finally, the others, not at all.
Result? A real Tombola!
That said, obviously, no party or political group could or wanted to let Christian Estrosi have the beautiful role of the paladin of noble causes (even if they are doomed).
So, head-on attack… Everyone against the nasty Parisian who means harm to the good people of the Côte d’Azur…
Something seen before and somewhat tiresome…
Statement by Marie-Christine Arnautu: the double talk of Christian Estrosi
Let the deputy mayor of Nice not be mistaken: by voting this morning at the Metropolitan Council on his motion of censure against the transfer to the private sector of the majority of the capital of the Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur company, we have not given him a blank check to act, as usual, in the sole interest of his image and personal publicity. We have already expressed it clearly: we are firmly opposed to the sale of the Nice airport, undoubtedly moreover, to foreign capital.
But Estrosi’s hell, paved with good intentions, we can only denounce the moral hypocrisy of such a motion: having just taken up responsibilities within the UMP, who does he think will believe that all this is anything other than an additional PR stunt?
Christian Estrosi knows perfectly well that, having voted for the Treaty of Lisbon along with his friends from the UMP and the PS, he is responsible and guilty of this grand clearance sale. He knows perfectly well that whatever the outcome of the local referendum he wishes to organize on this subject, the results will have no impact on the PS government’s decision since, thanks to the backing of the UMP, France continues to kneel before Brussels.
So, stop your charades and theatrical posturing, Mr. Estrosi, spare us your long-winded self-satisfied speeches à la Fidel Castro. Have the courage to use the local referendum on issues that directly affect the people of Nice and their taxes, such as the route of the tramway line 2… But you undoubtedly fear the result.
Statement by Patrick Allemand: Estrosi refuses the outstretched hand
I regret that the mayor of Nice did not seize the outstretched hand of our group this morning at the metropolitan council, to achieve a unanimous vote on the motion he presented against the privatization of the airport. It was enough for the mayor to remove from the deliberation the paragraph asking the metropolis for its support for the public consultation of the people of Nice.
This public consultation is even less justified since, fundamentally, all opposition groups have supported the mayor of Nice. All groups are against the privatization. So there’s nothing to be decided.
He did not do it, thus missing the opportunity for inclusive action. It’s proof that his little political maneuver is more important to him than bringing everyone together in the name of the greater interest of our territory beyond political divides.
