Manuel Valls’s proposal to merge the LR and PS lists in the second round of the regional elections in the event of a possible or probable success of the FN candidates is not at all to the taste of Christian Estrosi, LR candidate in PACA.
Even though the Prime Minister’s statement was addressed to Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie where the FN candidate is none other than Marine Le Pen, the mayor of Nice and LR candidate defined this option as “an extremely dangerous game.”
For Christian Estrosi, it is out of the question to give up running for the regional presidency, and his motivation is straightforward: “I am not a candidate to block anyone but to lead the region and make changes.”
In this debate, the FN, which was not directly concerned, took the opportunity to re-enter the fray and fuel the controversy. For the National Front supporters, it was mainly the statement “defeating the FN is a moral duty” that stuck in their throat.
Marion Le Pen’s spokesperson, Franck Allisio, wanted to remind Christian Estrosi of some “uncomfortable” truths:
“Should we remind Christian ESTROSI that the president of his support committee, Jean-Claude GAUDIN, presided over the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region from 1986 to 1992 after asking for and accepting the support of the regional councilors from the National Front?”
Or: “Should we remind Christian ESTROSI that we have not found any trace of resignation or even condemnation of Jacques MEDECIN in 1990 when he declared to agree 99% with the National Front while the same Christian ESTROSI was his deputy?”
And also: “Should we remind Christian ESTROSI that he was in favor of an alliance with the National Front in 1998 to block the left and even accepted to be the 1st Vice-President with a President of the Regional Council coming from the National Front ranks?”
His conclusion is unequivocal: “How far will Christian ESTROSI go in posturing and imposture? How can one start a career chasing after the National Front and end it chasing after the Socialist Party?”
What’s the saying in such cases? All’s fair in love and war!
