The regional council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Paca) confirmed on Friday the establishment of a “regional conference,” a consultative assembly promised by its president Christian Estrosi (Les Républicains), shortly before his election, thanks to the withdrawal of the left.
The National Front (FN) refuses to participate, especially since 20 seats were reserved for them as well as for the Green ecologists.
“It is out of the question for the FN to participate in this masquerade,” reacted the president of the FN group in the Region, Marion Maréchal-Le Pen, denouncing a “gadget that has no logic in its representation,” “an expensive and useless duplicate of the regional Economic and Social Council.”
At first glance, its composition seems excessive: 150 people will take part, including 116 representatives of the parties present in the first round (a condition to include the socialists), 30 from civil society plus President Estrosi himself and his three predecessors.
Given that the regional assembly consists of 120 elected officials, this “citizen observatory,” which will meet by April, resembles an agora.
In this confrontation of ideas, since the decision-making power lies elsewhere, two options are conceivable: disruptive infighting and enlightened questioning. The result is awaited with curiosity because organized infighting quickly turns into a farce.
Christophe Madrolle, who led the PS-PRG list in Bouches-du-Rhône, spoke on behalf of the left opposition, defining this initiative as a “form of regional democracy.”
He announced that his group “will lead vigilant and constructive opposition in this assembly on economic, Mediterranean, and cultural issues.”
This declaration is reassuring: instead of the dull murmur of a weak consensus, there will be combative vibrancy.
Specialists of “flatus vocis,” have the socialists been contaminated by the commitment and determination of Christian Estrosi and (finally?) rediscovered a warrior spirit?
