Indeed, the custom of celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany dates back to ancient times as this tradition is rooted in the verses of the Bible, commemorating the arrival of the Magi who came to present their gifts to the infant Jesus and to celebrate Him by offering presents.
Last Sunday, local elected officials took advantage of this celebration to express their wishes to all their supporters and followers. Nice Première decided to follow the local Balthazar, Melchior, and Gaspard, who are Rudy Salles (UDF), Jérôme Rivière (UMP), and Marc Concas (PS).
It was Deputy Rudy Salles who started the festivities at 3 PM in the prestigious setting of the Palais Acropolis, which for the occasion, echoed with Brazilian rhythms led by two magnificent dancers and a group of Capoeira acrobats. Accompanied by his two guests of honor, the great orchestra conductor and European parliament member, Claire Gibault, and the esteemed journalist, former President of Radio France, Jean-Marie Cavada, the Deputy and General Councilor, Rudy Salles, presented his New Year’s wishes to some two thousand people present. Noteworthy: the proposal for the free use of Nice’s bypass highway.
For the young Nice Deputy, Jérôme Rivière, his wish ceremony took place at 4:30 PM in the working-class area of Saint Roch. The ceremony was held in the well-attended Francis Giordan gymnasium echoing with words from the Deputy of the first district of Nice who has still not revealed his intentions regarding a possible candidacy in the upcoming 2008 municipal elections. Noteworthy: The stance against the establishment of a mosque in the center of Nice.
Finally, at 5 PM in the almost too narrow premises of the FSGT, Marc Concas and Patrick Allemand killed two birds with one stone by gathering a large part of their supporters but also a fine selection of socialist officials like Frédérique Grégoire, Christine Mirauchaux, Anne Julie Clary, Paul Cuturello, and Yann Libratti. Noteworthy: the handling of the security dossier in Old Nice by Marc Concas and the confirmation of Patrick Allemand’s likely candidacy for the Mayor of Nice.
History does not tell who got the fève offering the golden crown, but one thing is for sure, the Feast of the Epiphany has become a key moment in the local political landscape, enabling various elected officials to gather their voters at the dawn of this new year 2008.
