Last electoral campaign meeting for Christian Estrosi who, following last Sunday’s first-round vote in this election, has almost regained his position as the leading citizen.
With more than thirty points ahead of his main opponent, the outgoing mayor can only regret not winning the election in the first round like his fellow party members, Louis Nègre at the metropolitan level, Jean Léonetti, and Michèle Tabarot at the departmental level, and Alain Juppé at the national level.
The second round will thus be a solo run for Christian Estrosi who will have two symbolic “opponents” (though significant in terms of political analysis): the abstentionists with the aim of having more votes than them and the 50% vote mark (a result not achieved for 31 years).
In any case, this second term will be very interesting to follow for the novelty represented by the presence in the municipal and metropolitan council of the FN elected officials (who want to be combative and most likely impermeable to sirens as were those of the Republican Entente during the term that is ending) and those from the Bettati list, among whom the existing conflicting relationships between the former deputy and the Mayor of Nice cannot be ignored.
Will the small socialist and green patrol, traditionally opposed to the right-wing majority, be considered a moderate force?
Returning to last night, the scent of victory for some, and for others, the desire to show themselves, meant that the Palace hall (formerly Superstar), barely renovated, was packed and the audience ready to erupt at any moment.
Fired up by the introduction of the president of Christian Estrosi’s support committee, Eric Ciotti, with epic tones echoing those of General De Gaulle on the occasion of the liberation of Paris on May 28, 1944 (Nice restored, Nice renewed…!), the numerous supporters (the sports term fits beautifully in such an atmosphere) gave Christian Estrosi a triumphant welcome with thunderous applause, cries, and slogans “Christian, Christian!” and “We’re going to win, we’re going to win” punctuating his speech.
The candidate, for his part, whose oratory style can only be appreciated on such an occasion, in a vibrant speech, asked his electorate, who might feel satisfied with the victory and, consequently, settle for the accomplishments of the first round, to avoid any demobilization.
Surrounded by his running mates – among whom the almost total absence of the new 2.0 generation was striking (How many under-thirties are in a team that will lead the city in the next six years?), after a summary of the results of his first term and a reminder of the key points of the new project (and a twenty-year development plan!), Christian Estrosi let his heart speak in a “heroic” finale.
But, after a relentlessly conducted campaign with the commitment and intensity he is known for, we will not make a fuss over this slightly too “Nicewood” finale that reminds us, however, that the Azure city was one of the capitals of French cinema…
