La France Audacieuse, founded in 2017 with mayors from the moderate right and center, confirmed this evolution during a general assembly on September 22 in St Germain en Laye, live on social media (see at the end of the article).
The movement, which claims 6,000 members and 300 mayors, aims to “no longer be a club of mayors” but “a movement of citizens, business leaders, unions, associations…” addressing issues such as security, public health, and ecological transition.
Christian Estrosi, who has ruled out any national ambitions, calls for political “transcendence” “starting from a decentralized France” with this initiative.
However, by transforming “La France Audacieuse,” which he created three years ago, into a “political movement,” Christian Estrosi wants to “make the voices of the territories heard” and “have influence” in the political debate.
“It is too easy to rely on local authorities when there is a crisis (…) and ignore them when it comes to building a national reform,” he emphasized, praising “the action of local players who managed to compensate for the state’s shortcomings” during the health crisis.
State and local authorities, “we must act together,” he added, calling for “transcendence” and “unity” in the upcoming elections “from a decentralized France.”
“We do not intend to be a political party that supports a presidential candidate,” but rather to be “a true interlocutor in major political debates” capable of “influencing upcoming reforms,” assured the mayor of Nice, who recently stirred his party by suggesting an alliance between the right and Emmanuel Macron.
In this spirit, “we very clearly want not to be at anyone’s beck and call and to be a space where everyone is free to speak,” added the mayor of Nice.
A question remains: will Christian Estrosi leave his party, The Republicans, as Valérie Pécresse did after founding her movement “Libre!” and former Minister Xavier Bertrand following his election as regional president of Hauts-de-France?
Find the press conference:
