The new association “The Friends of the Mayor” made its debut at a large public evening event (about 2,000 people present according to the organizers) held yesterday at Acropolis.
In the hall, the city’s and metropolitan area’s notable personalities, elected officials and collaborators, UMP activists and sympathizers, numerous municipal employees and civil servants were present. After working hours, the duty of political neutrality ends and everyone is free (or advised) to express their political affiliation.
On the agenda was the presentation of the leadership team (Pierre-Paul Leonelli as President of the association, with Dominique Estrosi-Sassone and Benoît Kandel as the two vice-presidents), while Denise Fabre (obviously delighted to have, for an evening, resumed the gestures and words of her former profession as master of ceremonies) was given the classic role of the honorary president.
As an appetizer, Pierre-Paul Leonelli’s introduction was solemn: “Since March 2008, Christian Estrosi has devoted himself tirelessly and with all his energy to implementing actions to fulfill the commitments he made to you at the time of his election to the Mairie of Nice. Nice has never experienced such a renewal: Beautification, influence, dynamism. A renewal he leads in the service of our children, elders, heritage, jobs, and purchasing power… That is why, in order for our commitment to Nice around our Mayor to be strengthened, we decided to create ‘The Friends of the Mayor Association.’ It is open to all the residents of Nice who hold Nice close to their hearts and wish to preserve its history, heritage, customs, and, more generally, its identity.”
As a starter, the menu included the speeches of different deputies who, in truth, could only add to the previous hagiographic remarks.
On the other hand, Eric Ciotti’s statement was interesting, as some opponents and even some friends would like to see him as a rival (to create a situation of confusion and general weakening): It wasn’t the case, the former collaborator and right-hand man of Christian Estrosi, although he has learned to spread his wings, remains loyal to this alliance that forms this remarkable duo managing power in Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes.
The main course was, of course, Christian Estrosi’s speech: again no surprise, the address was extensive (an hour and a half) to a loyal audience that didn’t even have the time to find the time long!
The Mayor of Nice did not miss the opportunity to paint a comprehensive picture of his term and already envision the upcoming program for the next one (kick-off for the pre-election campaign): Everything was mentioned, the transformation of Nice (the renovation of the city, major projects such as the Coulée Verte, the Grand Stade Allianz Riviera, the Gare du Sud, the Pasteur hospital, etc.), the personal commitment (“for 25 years, each day, each hour, I’ve dedicated myself to the service of Nice and its county”), the love for his city (“The first source of my strength comes from this soil of Nice, it is giant, inexhaustible”)…
There couldn’t be a lack of all-out criticism against the government with a call for resistance and a historical quote from General De Gaulle (For intellectual honesty, it must be said that the comparison seems, more than just immodest, quite out of place at least with respect to the context because one can legitimately criticize and oppose the government’s actions but comparing it to the national soil occupation by an armed occupier…that’s still quite something else).
Two interesting news items for the future: The former Palais du Sénat (at the far end of cours Saleya) will be dedicated, after renovation, to hosting the Heritage Center, and the Promenade des Anglais, (after ongoing refurbishments) will be proposed for listing, by UNESCO, as a World Heritage site.
Two excellent initiatives that can only find the unanimous support of all the residents of Nice, who are justly proud of their history.
Of course, one could carefully analyze the differences between Christian Estrosi’s speech and the realities because, while Nice is a beautiful signature, as its mayor rightfully boasts, it is not this earthly paradise one might think when listening to his lyrical flights.
But on the other hand, what should a mayor preparing to ask his fellow citizens to renew him in this magistracy say other than that his action has been the best possible?
We know that motivated criticism is more useful than too much self-congratulation and that wise and sincere advisors are better than “laudators” (When hearing young municipal councilor, Marine Brenier, who should represent the audacity and impertinence of youth, say in her address that Christian Estrosi is “the embodiment of Nice,” one wonders what the links between transcendence and political action are!).
But, we also know that current politics prefer appearance, effect, and sensation to the truth. That the victorious man or political party is no longer the one presenting the best record or program but the one endowed with the most striking image because images move much faster than arguments and their necessary understanding.
We are in the realm of rapid opinion, reactive decisions, the reign of the random and the contingent. Hence it is done.
And to not contradict the president of “The Friends of the Mayor” who announced that this meeting would not be political but “A moment of friendship and conviviality,” we will say that in the end, it was a delightful evening.
