The large hall of the Palais de la Méditerranée was packed, and latecomers had to attend the meeting standing. The evening was a success and served as a real-world test of Olivier Bettati’s ability to mobilize his supporters.
We’ll avoid entering the battle over numbers, but suffice it to say there were more than the ironically noted 15 people announced by Olivier Bettati in response to the ‘Estrosist twitter users’ who, during the official presentation of his candidacy in nearby premises, wasted time in a needless and grotesque debate over the exact number of attendees.
The candidate aspiring to be a “Mayor of proximity” presented his running mates in the presence of several elected officials from the Azurean communes and some personalities from the associative and socio-professional life of Nice.
In any case, Olivier Bettati, in a context far from easy against the formidable opponent Christian Estrosi (the relations between the two men, never warm, have now become hostile), has demonstrated to be a politician who knows his subject without necessarily navigating in murky waters.
Though his list may not present significant novelties from the perspective of those familiar with local politics, and unsurprisingly, those who joined his initiative since his departure from the municipal majority naturally find themselves at the forefront. Still, it is worth noting that it responds, in a balanced way, to his long-standing approach to local politics: Ideas are neither right nor left but rather good or not.
This is the motto of this “winemaker” who, like the roots of his vineyard, is deeply anchored in Nice and its territory and plans to call upon common sense to govern “his” city if voters place their trust in him.
Moreover, after more than 20 years of active politics since he became the youngest member of the Nice City Council in 1993, this political enthusiast (“a wonderful human adventure,” he says) thought: Why not me?
