In this statement, Philippe Vardon harshly criticizes this subsidy passed by the Metropolitan Bureau in favor of this training initiative announced a few weeks ago, which is expected to start after the summer.
He criticizes it on procedural grounds (why a deliberation in secret?) and on substantive grounds (why should a local authority subsidize a training school?). The questions are legitimate, and the doubts about its appropriateness—beyond legitimacy—spark curiosity, at the very least.
There is no doubt about the usefulness of the initiative, which follows others of the same brand spread around the world since the first opening in Paris. That young people—who are sometimes looking for their professional path—acquire a training foundation in the field of information technology is more than good.
However, it can be suggested that private patronage, especially when one is a multi-billionaire, does not go hand in hand with public subsidies. The famous trickle-down is supposed to be the flow of wealth from the top down, not the other way around. If that were the case, it would be a world first.
As for the allegations expressed surreptitiously between the lines by Philippe Vardon regarding the influences of Xavier Niel for his investments in the press sector*, we leave him with full responsibility for them.
Finally, we must be surprised by Philippe Vardon’s astonishment, who, beyond his political ideas, knows the functioning of politics well and has a keen sense for this matter.
Did he not mention a few hours earlier, in a public session, what he called “the caricature majority”?
Yesterday (Editor’s note: Thursday 23), at the end of the day, after the review of a hundred files and deliberations, the Metropolitan Council Bureau (a reduced body, meeting without the public) voted on an agreement with the Nice branch of École 42—the new technology school founded by Xavier Niel—granting it support of 589,116 euros over three years.
This financial support represents the provision of premises in the Var plain for 280,800 euros and operational support of 308,316 euros.
A supporter of Emmanuel Macron, the founder of École 42, Xavier Niel is also a major press owner through Le Monde but especially BFM TV, and closer to us, he is the owner of Nice Matin.
The three elected officials representing the group “Another Way for the Metropolis—elected RN and Popular Right” within the Metropolitan Bureau voted AGAINST this rather surprising financial support.
Against, because passing this deliberation, with such a sum, at the end of the day, in a body meeting behind closed doors, poses a real problem of transparency.
Against, because—naturally—this support can only raise questions when the Metropolis, led by Christian Estrosi, whose media frenzy is well known, grants such support to a project carried by a man who is—a heavyweight in the media both locally and nationally.
For these reasons, both procedural and substantive, this financial support seems inappropriate and could legitimize suspicions that fuel distrust towards political action.
Xavier Niel is ranked 129th in the world’s fortunes. He has invested 88 million euros in his École 42 in Silicon Valley: whatever one may think of his school otherwise, he has the means to invest and engage in our territory without his project being funded in this way by the money of the people of Nice and the Metropolis residents. Many struggling companies would probably need these 589,116 euros more than he does…
Philippe Vardon
Municipal and metropolitan councilor of Nice
Vice-President of the RN group at the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Council
