On Tuesday, the Administrative Court confirmed the cancellation of the transfer of the Port of Nice from May 9, 2006, to the General Council, which temporarily reverts back to the State. According to the magistrates, the regional prefect, who was supposed to designate the new owner, should have sought an agreement between the General Council of Alpes Maritimes and the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur Regional Council before choosing one of the candidates.
The appeal filed by the Regional Council has therefore succeeded. While waiting for the Regional Prefect Michel Sappin to designate a new owner, the Port of Nice will be temporarily managed by the State. In the current context, amid the campaign for the municipal elections, this decision has elicited reactions from the various candidates. The General Council, led by Christian Estrosi, UMP candidate, stated: “The General Council acknowledges this decision and will not appeal, so as not to prolong a procedure that runs counter to the interests of the people of Nice. The General Council can only regret the harm to the residents of Nice and the delay in the future development of the Port of Nice, following the requests expressed by the population during the consultation at the beginning of 2007.” The General Council remains a candidate to manage the Port. The other protagonist, the Regional Council and its Vice President Patrick Allemand, PS candidate for the mayor of Nice, “welcomes the decision of the Nice Administrative Tribunal canceling the transfer of ownership of the Port of Nice to the General Council”. He adds, positioning himself as an opponent of Christian Estrosi: “This is a resounding first defeat for Christian ESTROSI. In this city, not everything is possible anytime and anyhow. The people of Nice must be assured of my determination to demonstrate this in the coming weeks.”
Until the municipal election, on each issue, on each piece of news, the candidates for the Town Hall will react, attack each other, criticize, and denounce the culpable responsibilities. A tradition of electoral campaigning.
Reactions:
General Council of Alpes Maritimes:
Following the appeal filed by the Regional Council, the Administrative Court of Nice pronounced the annulment of the decision by the Regional Prefect regarding the transfer of the Port of Nice to the Department, on the grounds that the consultation conducted by the State’s regional services prior to this operation was insufficient.
The General Council acknowledges this decision and will not appeal, so as not to prolong a procedure that runs counter to the interests of the people of Nice. The General Council can only regret the harm to the residents of Nice and the delay in the future development of the Port of Nice, following the requests expressed during the early 2007 consultation. The Department remains a candidate for the same project.
It is making itself available to the Regional Prefect to participate in the new consultation process, while hoping that this new procedure can take place within the shortest possible time to avoid penalizing the local residents and economic players of the Port of Nice.
Furthermore, the General Council offers the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, as needed, and under his authority, the availability of its resources to ensure the continuity of service on this facility during the consultation period.
