To each their own. It’s up to Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Cรดte d’Azur Metropolis and a candidate for re-election, to open our “Interviews.” He is the man to beat, more than just a candidate. One might even say that while other candidates aspire to victory, he can only lose!
An experienced man with 30 years in politics, he has an uncommon career that needs no introduction. In the local context, he is the “master” of the place and wields his power with determination. He is not speculative nor a great theorist but a pragmatist who is action-oriented. One could even say that for him, the joy of the soul is in action.
His opponents accuse him of publicity stunts, waste of public funds, a constant and sometimes oppressive media presence, and numerous costly and unnecessary events.
Despite this, he is never short of projects, and there remain some quite concrete actions to his credit, like the Allianz Riviera, the green corridor on the Promenade du Paillon, or the Louis Mille library at the old Gare du Sud.
He wants to be, in a new term, this mayor “omnia omnibus ubique” (Everything, for all, everywhere), with the ambition of making Nice a major international signature.
And what if it were by reaching out rather than clenching his fists at those who don’t think like him? Shouldn’t a good Mayor, above all, be a great unifier?
Nice Premium: Municipal elections are the meeting of the citizens with “their” mayor… How do you position yourself in relation to this principle of
proximity?
Christian Estrosi : First, I didn’t wait for the campaign to meet with the people of Nice. For 6 years, I have met daily with locals who talk about their expectations for our city, their pride in seeing their town beautified, but also their concerns about the government’s policy that diminishes their purchasing power.
This policy of proximity is constant. It is therefore quite logical that I propose the people of Nice participate in the project I will present when the time comes by joining working groups or leaving a contribution on my website: www.estrosi-2014.fr
NP: Do you think this election will be influenced by the national situation?
CE : Yes, because the government’s policies are deeply worrying the people of Nice. They can no longer stand Mr. Hollande’s lies and confusion, who, for six months, has promised to lower taxes that he himself has considerably increased. A mayor’s role is to protect his constituents. That’s why, for the sixth consecutive year, I wanted the city of Nice to pass a budget without raising taxes.
NP: Nice, like France, is emerging from the crisis of recent years. The goal is to have more growth. How will economic development be encouraged?
CE : By creating a general framework for development. We have just laid the foundations of our economic strategy for the coming years: reorienting the economic model to diversify it, make it more technological, more job-creating, and collectively wealth-generating. The OIN Eco-Valley is, and will be, the centerpiece of this strategy. I promised 30,000 jobs by 2020, and thanks to the establishments of IKEA, the regional headquarters of EDF, Veolia, GDF-Suez, we are already over 4,000 guaranteed jobs.
NP: You are an unwavering supporter of events…
CE : Yes, because it supports jobs. The economic impact of the Tour de France, the ice skating world cup, the Francophonie Games, and the Nice Jazz Festival are counted in millions of euros… We have gone from 500 events per year in 2008 to 1,500 today…
NP: What is your ambition?
CE : My ambition is to make Nice and the Nice Cรดte d’Azur metropolis, which brings together 49 municipalities, the territory where people are happiest to live while preserving and developing our exceptional living environment. This also involves a perspective concerning the midland and highland areas to achieve balanced development with the coast.
NP: You declare yourself a proponent of “estrosism.” But there is also anti-estrosism… In addition to your traditional opponents from the left and far-right, a part of the “Nice” right wants to challenge you…
CE : The people of Nice are judges of what I’ve accomplished in six years of office. Some, to whom I had indicated that the constitution of the next list would be based on merit and hard work, have preferred to attempt an adventure based on personal ambitions. That’s their problem. As for me, I’m waiting for propositions!
NP: If you are elected, with the implementation of the law prohibiting the cumulation of mandates in 2017, you will have to choose between the mayoralty and the deputyship?
CE : I have already had the opportunity to say that I will choose my mayoral mandate no matter what.
NP: Will women have an important place in your future team?
CE : I believe I have already demonstrated great openness in this term. A significant number of delegations have been entrusted to them, and I am delighted with the quality of their commitment and work accomplished. Of course, they will continue to have major responsibilities if I am elected.
