Philippe Vardon is a young politician whose ideas represent the ‘middle ground’ of the electorate, as sociologists would say. His statements, certainly direct, might seem excessive to some. But they express more of an ethno-cultural approach and orientation rather than an ideological tone with the presence of some racist toxins. The debate is open, and everyone will contribute their part.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that the issue of immigration and its consequences, those of identity, as well as multiculturalism or communitarianism, are and will be the main focus of political news and for the coming years. Everyone will have to address the issue of a Nation’s evolving identity, between the culture of refusal, that of excuse, or the openness to those who, coming from elsewhere, accept the laws and customs of their new place of residence. Philippe Vardon says aloud what many think without saying, or say indirectly.
Interview with an atypical character.
NP: You are the spokesperson for the political movement Nissa-Rebela and also a candidate in the cantonal elections in Nice’s 3rd canton. Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Philippe Vardon: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak so freely. I am 30 years old, married, and soon to be a father. After studying at the faculty of law in Nice (holding a postgraduate degree in political science), I eventually turned to commerce and manage two shops, one located in the Arson district, at the heart of the 3rd canton. This professional choice, quite distant from my university years, is a deliberate choice linked to both my temperament and my political and philosophical choices. Working in a field directly related to my degrees (such as a parliamentary assistant or in a mayor’s office) would have immediately restricted my freedom of speech and action. However, your readers who know me a little understand that I am fiercely attached to my freedom and hate being told what to do, say, or think…
NP: Your political commitment certainly has an origin and motivation. What are they?
PV: I developed a political awareness quite young. Initially a hesitant political consciousness, which through reading, encounters, experiences, and personal maturation led me to the identity commitment that I hold today. I took my first steps towards a certain form of activism more than 15 years ago, at 14, by aligning with other young people in my school who like me felt that they were slowly being dispossessed of their inheritance by massive immigration and convulsive, totalitarian anti-racism. We belonged to a generation that experienced teachers displaying the little yellow hand of SOS Racism on their jacket collars… Growing up in the Moulins housing estate – in a building where we were the only white family! – the ethnic divide slammed into my face. The feeling of becoming a stranger on my own soil… Quite quickly, this juvenile revolt transformed into true political commitment by my high school years.
NP: What has been your political journey and what are your expectations?
PV: I have held responsibilities—at local, regional, and national levels—in several groups of young activists committed to defending their roots, particularly in student unionism. In 2002, I was involved in both the theoretical conception and field action in launching the identity movement, of which Nissa Rebela is the representative and voice in the County of Nice. In 2006, we presented for the first time an identity candidate under the Nissa Rebela label in a by-election in northern Nice. Since then, we have been present in all elections (legislative, municipal, cantonal, regional), with quite encouraging and constantly improving results. On the activist front, we have also experienced significant growth, especially due to our strong influence among Nice’s youth (among whom we achieved one of the best scores in the 2008 municipal elections). We also run parallel structures like our Nice identity house “Lou Bastioun” (located in the 3rd canton, Ribotti Street), or the Soulidarieta association which helps the most disadvantaged of our compatriots and is known for the infamous “pork soup” that caused quite a stir.
NP: You certainly have a view on the general political situation. What is your analysis and considerations?
PV: The County of Nice, France, and Europe are facing a severe crisis, an existential crisis. The major question of this century in our eyes is “Who are we?” and we believe that the 21st century will be one of return to identity, deep identities, just as the 20th was one of ideologies. In the face of globalization, and uniformity, we are the defenders of the peoples’ right to remain themselves, which seems to us at least as important as the peoples’ right to self-determination under which decolonization was conducted. We do not want a flat, gray, dull world where everything equals everything else, where everything resembles everything else… That is to say, ultimately nothing. We affirm our love for real diversity, meaning the colors, odors, accents, and peculiarities that make the world a polyphony and its beauty. To remain themselves, Nice-French-Europeans face many challenges, among which globalization, massive immigration, and its consequence of Islamization seem most important. These could, if not faced with courage—and thus far, it is indeed courage our leaders lack—mean the end of our peoples and civilization. To overcome these challenges and trials, we urge our compatriots to resource themselves in their identity and traditions, to rediscover the solid, firm, immutable foundations of their society.
NP: Can you share your opinion on the situation of the City of Nice and the Department? What are your criticisms? Do you have proposals to make?
PV: Since the city and department were taken over by the duo Estrosi-Ciotti, the situation has not improved… After their election in the Sarkozy euphoria (and there is still much to say about how they were elected, one becoming mayor by stabbing Jacques Peyrat in the back, the other becoming president of the general council by asking Gaston Franco to resign to get elected in the valleys after a severe defeat in Nice…) followed a real disenchantment among Nice’s population. A city abandoned by a mayor preferring to build a career in Paris, tortured by pharaonic projects half of which never succeed and the other half carry an exorbitant cost without understanding their purpose, local taxes increased by 20% both citywide and department-wide in the first year, insane insecurity with 50 attacks a day and two armed robberies a week in 2010, and the pseudo-eco but truly bobo delusions of an Estrosi who might do better to permanently settle in Paris if he wants to build a city worthy of Delanoé…
We believe for our part that the people of Nice must return to be MASTERS IN THEIR OWN HOME, and this will be the full meaning of the project for the cantonal elections which we will present to the media, then to the people of Nice at the end of the month. In our view, this requires various aspects:
-Identity, through defending our language and traditions (introduction to Nissart in schools and colleges, refusal of subsidies to associations promoting cultures foreign to the European continent, support for rooted cultural initiatives, preservation of the historic centers of our towns and villages)
-The fight against Islamization, with a slogan that could today become “yes to socca, no to burqa” (absolute refusal of the construction of a second large mosque in Nice, refusal to open the Islamic college in La Trinité, reaffirmation of the secular nature of our institutions and the Christian roots of our civilization)
-Security, to reclaim our streets from the scum (return of foot patrols in all neighborhoods and focus on fighting crime rather than chasing motorists, opening of municipal police posts in each neighborhood, and creation of a departmental victim aid service)
-Sovereignty, through the creation of a County of Pays Niçois (creation of a department corresponding to the historical boundaries of the County, revaluation of our valleys and mountains and development of genuine synergy, return of Puget-Théniers as a sub-prefecture)
-Democracy, by giving back the floor to the people through popular initiative referendums and local referendums (based on the Swiss democratic model)
-A fairer fiscal policy benefiting ours before others (local priority for social aid, the return of part of the VAT collected locally to the department to end state extortion, a departmental contract with ESCOTA to stop the constant increase in toll rates)
-Localism, to enable Nice residents to live and work in their country (creation of a “Local Business” label and tax incentives for companies that support the country by producing and employing locally, support for traditional farming, limitation of the number of secondary residences in the villages, and quotas of housing reserved for locals to stop speculation and the conversion of hamlets into holiday villages).
As you can see, if our judgment on the politics led by Estrosi and Ciotti is harsh, we do not lack proposals (daring, sometimes ambitious indeed, but always realistic) to change the situation and allow the people of Nice to take back their destiny. While others strive to do the opposite and confiscate this possibility from them…
NP: The cantonal elections are considered an important electoral milestone. A test for local, even national politics. Do you agree with this opinion? And why did you decide to stand as a candidate?
PV: These cantonal elections are, in our view, particularly important because they will be the last local election before 2014… After this March, the presidential cycle (in which the Identitarians will also have a say on a national scale) will occupy the entire political stage. It is thus a unique opportunity for us to send the UMP majority at the department tumbling and to sound the charge that, we hope, will see Christian Estrosi leave the mayor’s office in 2014. We can truly create a surprise in this election, and in any case, confirm our role in Nice’s political life and make ourselves heard there. And to make ourselves heard means letting the voices of those thousands of Nice residents who want to defend their identity and their right to security be heard, themes that will be central to us in this cantonal campaign.
My campaign in the 3rd canton will be centered around these two main axes: identity and security. Identity, because it is necessary to preserve this canton which is still the soul of popular Nice and possesses a real historical and sentimental treasure through its heritage, and in particular its human heritage (it is undoubtedly one of the city’s cantons where one can hear Nissart spoken most often). Thus, I intend to continue my action against speculative maneuvers such as those of the Bouygues real estate group against the Centre Costanzo, but also to denounce the ‘kebabization’ of streets, even entire areas of our neighborhoods. Security, because in many respects the residents of the 3rd canton’s districts feel abandoned in the face of thugs. The examples of the Palio residence or Army-of-the-Rhine Square have demonstrated the residents’ sense of isolation against gangs and dealers…
NP: Are you in a position to make a prediction regarding the general results? And for the canton where you are a candidate?
PV: Thanks to the significant establishment of the identity movement in this canton and my personal roots, I fully intend to play the role of outsider in these cantonal elections and disrupt the duel between the outgoing general councilor (Jacques Victor – PCF) and the UMP candidate. I can even say that today, the only candidates really existing in the eyes of the neighborhood’s residents are Jacques Victor and myself. Because we are the only ones they see all year round, present at their side. I have always been present for the residents, and if I become their general councilor I will be for them and our neighborhoods a true shield. They already know they can count on me to defend and protect them. But I am, of course, also aware of the weight of electoral habits, and the weight of political machines. Moreover, in the 3rd canton (as in the 14th) the campaign has been launched with large public works and developments. It’s easier when you’re at the helm, isn’t it…
Nonetheless, I believe that in the 3rd canton, but also in all other cantons of the County of Nice (because we will be everywhere!) Nissa Rebela’s identity candidates will create an event, because we know that today we capitalize on both the anger (at the situation of our city) and the hopes of a large part of the population. For identity and security, to remain masters at home, on March 20 the voters of Nice must make the courageous choice and vote identity!
