The “friends of Sarkozy” dream of his return? Orphaned by Nicolas Sarkozy since his defeat on May 6, his close associates have gathered to create an association. Around Brice Hortefeux, they all expressed, “in a personal capacity,” the wish to see the former president return to the political arena.
The presence among the promoters of Christian Estrosi and Eric Ciotti and the absence of certain local barons means that the departmental right will have to choose between “nostalgics” and “post” for the 2017 goal?
It is neither a branch of the UMP, nor a political movement, but an “affective approach, friendly, loyal to” the former president, assured Brice Hortefeux after an hour-long meeting. “It is not a political or politically motivated initiative,” he reiterated.
The association’s board was adopted during this meeting and resembles a former government: Brice Hortefeux will be president, Christian Estrosi general secretary, Nadine Morano treasurer, Nora Berra, Maurice Leroy, Pierre Charon, Claude Guรฉant, and Christine Boutin vice-presidents, and Alain Joyandet, deputy general secretary.
Everything is very structured, but still…: Christian Estrosi, UMP deputy for the Alpes-Maritimes, judged, “in a personal capacity, that at some point or another” Nicolas Sarkozy had “the vocation to be the best unifying factor to bring us together.” He has been the natural and moral leader and remains so.
Another deputy from the Alpes-Maritimes, Eric Ciotti declared: “Our country will need him, we are convinced of it,” believing that “his strength, his ideas, remain intact to modernize our country.”
