It’s official. The triumvirate composed of the three former Prime Ministers Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Alain Juppรฉ, and Franรงois Fillon takes the “provisional direction” of the UMP, and Luc Chatel is appointed as secretary-general, following a unanimous vote by the party’s political bureau this Tuesday, June 10.
The approximately fifty members of the political bureau, resembling an expanded government of the party, all voted in favor of the “resolution proposal” made by Raffarin, Juppรฉ, and Fillon.
This defines the “mandate of the trio,” notably giving them “the power to make and present to the BP, urgent administrative and financial decisions, made necessary by the party’s situation.”
This provisional direction, established following the forced resignation of Jean-Franรงois Copรฉ due to the Bygmalion affair, will remain in place until the autumn congress where a new president will be elected.
After the controversies of recent days, where each “faction” tried to exploit the crisis to position themselves and advance their pieces, we return to a situation of compromise.
It remains to be decided or confirmed whether the future President of the party can be a candidate in the 2017 presidential election, and whether the 2016 primaries will indeed take place as currently planned.
If we look at the nearest term, it seems that the three members of the triumvirate will not be candidates for different reasons: Raffarin because he aims for the presidency of the Senate, and Juppรฉ and Fillon due to presidential ambitions. Luc Chatel is positioned as a placeholder for the absent/present Nicolas Sarkozy,
We eagerly and with interest await the revelation of the ambitions of various figures.
And, searching thoroughly, why couldn’t the little roulette ball land on the name of Christian Estrosi?
The Nice elected official may be polarizing, but no one can deny that he is “solid.” Thirty years of political life are worth more than a few university degrees, and his territorial experience, not to mention numerous electoral successes in the 5th largest city in France, perhaps make him no less credible a candidate than those who clamor in front of the microphones, seeking the right angle and the clever phrase (falling into the category of: He says nothing, but how well he says it!).
So, to put back on track a party that no longer expresses a truly clear political line and that only shelters the political ambitions of a few pseudo-leaders (while waiting for a savior?), why not turn to someone who may never be a three-star Michelin but who can make a good meal, like those often found in provincial restaurants? The presentation may not be perfect, but at least the customer will get their money’s worth.
Besides, Estrosi himself does not rule out entering the race:
@estrosi: If you ask me the question about the presidency of the UMP, I say it clearly: I rule out nothing. I want a return to Gaullism #franceinfo
Still a few weeks to wait before knowing the final choice of the Mayor of Nice, but it is likely that if he presents his candidacy for the presidency of the UMP, besides removing a thorn in the side for some, he would likely have a good chance of reaching his goal.
