While for weeks the media and political circles in Nice wondered who would be his local counterpart, Christian Estrosi ultimately pulled from his hat the President of the Inter-Age University, Jean Michel Gally, presenting him as a member of the Radical Left Party, which consequently triggered a reaction from its departmental President, Jean-Christophe Picard, who denounced: “This claim is misleading because the running mate in question has never received the endorsement of our political party and, moreover, had been excluded from it.”
After legal notices due to non-regulatory posting and the frenzied searches to uncover the details, or the insides, of the Falcon jet trip, Christian Estrosi is once again the prime target of his competitors who, no doubt, have certainly kept their best cards for the end.
Therefore, Nice Premium went to meet Jean-Christophe Picard to understand why and how he decided to file this legal complaint.
INTERVIEW WITH JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PICARD
Nice Premium: Jean-Christophe Picard, you filed a legal complaint against the first round of the municipal elections in Nice. What are the reasons?
Jean-Christophe Picard: The PRG was unpleasantly surprised to see the mention “Radical Left Party” next to a running mate of Christian Estrosi on the ballot paper for the “Nice Together” slate. This is a misleading indication.
This theft of endorsement in a manner that creates confusion among the voters has damaged the “Nice Rainbow” slate, of which the PRG was a component.
I add that the radicals of the left consider that such a maneuver – aimed at making people believe they support a list that includes former officials from the Médecin, Barety, and Peyrat eras – severely harms their honor.
NP: Why do you say that the PRG mention is misleading and that it constitutes a theft of endorsement?
JCP: Because the running mate in question has never received the endorsement of our political formation and, furthermore, had been excluded from it.
NP: Do you think that this complaint could be validated for these reasons?
JCP: This is an extremely serious violation of the electoral code. It is up to the administrative court to establish whether this maneuver has affected the integrity of the election… Considering the high level of media coverage Christian Estrosi has enjoyed, I think this is the case.
I have also requested the integration, into the campaign account of the UMP candidate, of the cost of the return trip by private jet that had brought Christian Estrosi back to Nice.
NP: Finally, could other legal complaints be considered in the coming days or after the second round?
JCP: Everyone could see, during this campaign, a huge expenditure of resources, especially on the side of Christian Estrosi…
The mixing of roles (Secretary of State for Overseas, president of the general council, and candidate for the mayor of Nice) is sometimes questionable.
In any case, this mixing of roles clearly caused a breach of equality with the other candidates…
It is therefore possible that other legal complaints may be filed.
