Certainly,
It is certainly not the first time that Christian Estrosi, in front of a radio or television microphone, has let himself go… It is quite likely that the idea of being able to speak live heightens the adrenaline, which sometimes leads to language that is not the most conventional. This time, the Mayor of Nice did not hold back, shifting from a pistol to a bazooka! Did the presence in Nice over the past few days of Anita Garibaldi, the great-granddaughter of Giuseppe, inspire the mayor towards a more revolutionary stance, and when will he don the red shirt?
Or, is it simply a matter of positioning in view of the upcoming municipal elections?
Christian Estrosi, UMP deputy for the Alpes-Maritimes and Mayor of Nice, was a guest on the “Grand Rendez-vous” Europe 1-i>Télé-Le Parisien-Aujourd’hui en France on Sunday morning.
He launched a full-scale attack against travelers, the Roma, and Islam*.
He revisited the expulsions of travelers illegally occupying land in Nice, making a point to conflate them with the Roma community. He highlighted that expelling people illegally occupying land has become more difficult due to the Valls circular of 2012. “I call on mayors of France to revolt, in a way, and to use my method,” declared the Mayor of Nice. “We have means that allow us to do this.” Christian Estrosi thus calls on mayors of France to “not give in.” “The worst example in this matter is to give in. I have not given in on anything,” he assured.
Christian Estrosi cited the example of travelers who settled illegally on a rugby field in Nice and reportedly said they would stay for three weeks. The mayor offered them the 50 pitches at the communal reception area in the afternoon, but the community indicated they wanted to stay together. “I’ve subdued others, I will subdue you,” Christian Estrosi claims to have told them.
“The first thing I do is put cameras everywhere to monitor your every move in the coming hours. We’re going to note who comes in, who leaves, at what time, and what you do everywhere, in the city, in the metropolis, etc.”
“I’m going to take down the license plates one by one,” continued the Mayor of Nice. “I am filing an emergency application with the court as a precautionary measure to seize the vehicles, you know, those beautiful, big cars with which they pull their beautiful, big caravans, which it would sometimes take a lifetime for French people to afford.”
Claiming to have presented a bill of 500,000 euros, the Mayor of Nice asserts he said: “Not only are you going to leave, but first, you are going to pay. If you don’t pay, okay: Seizure of vehicles to reimburse what the taxpayers of Nice shouldn’t have to pay.”
“I will send my manual to all the mayors of France so they know all summer what means to use against a socialist power that does not support them,” Christian Estrosi finally announced. Asked whether he considers travelers and the Roma as delinquents, he responded: “When one breaks into a place, one is a delinquent.”
Reaction from Patrick Allemand (PS 06): a weekend of provocations!
Even though I don’t confuse Roma and travelers, how can one not draw a parallel between Jean-Marie Le Pen describing Roma as irritating and foul-smelling on Thursday and Christian Estrosi promising to subdue travelers and calling on mayors to revolt.
Once again the Mayor of Nice distinguishes himself by chasing after the FN without catching up.
This deplorable outburst, intended to not yield ground to Le Pen, coming from a man who has been a minister three times, neither elevates its author nor his party.
I maintain that this warlike, provocative language, held by a former minister, poses a danger to the social cohesion of the Nation.
Particularly effusive this weekend, did the Mayor of Nice not also declare that Islam and democracy are not compatible! Did he not finally declare while inaugurating the Line 1 tram stop at Pasteur that serving Ariane and La Trinité was throwing taxpayers’ money out the window.
By multiplying the categories of sub-citizens, the Mayor of Nice is irresponsibly creating tensions in the city.
