The UMP sought to demonstrate its unity during the meeting on September 11 in Nice at the open-air theater. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen’s summer days were taking place at the Acropolis Convention Center. Nathalie Kosciusko Morizet, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport, and Housing, Xavier Bertrand, Minister of Labor, Employment, and Health, Jean Leonetti, Minister in charge of European Affairs, David Douillet, Secretary of State for French Nationals Abroad, Jean-François Copé, Secretary-General of the UMP, Henri Guaino, advisor to the president, Christian Estrosi, Deputy Mayor of Nice, Departmental President of the UMP, Michèle Tabarot, Deputy Mayor of Le Cannet, Departmental Secretary of the UMP, and Eric Ciotti, Deputy – President of the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes, were present.
Nathalie Kosciusko Morizet, David Douillet, and Christian Estrosi opened the UMP meeting, thus setting the tone: “united to re-elect Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012.” The party attempted to conduct a debate and respond to public questions regarding social justice and security. Jeannette Bougrab, responsible for Youth and Associative Life, reminded that “the PS does not have the monopoly of the heart.”
“PS at war”
The closing meeting sounds like the victory of unity on the right. On one side, Rudy Salles from the new center was present. On the other, the reconciliation of Estrosi and Copé: “we missed each other.” The UMP constantly reminds that it is united. Xavier Bertrand tells us that the one who speaks best about socialist candidates is Ségolène Royal, citing her recent criticisms of Hollande and Aubry. The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, adds with humor: “Ségolène Royal is today a major ally,” thus noticing how the race for the primaries seems to be disuniting the PS.
“FN unchanged”
Another spearhead of the UMP during this meeting: “the courage of the president” and “the cowardice of the left.” Xavier Bertrand and his government colleagues rejoiced over the measures accomplished by the president and demolished the PS’s arguments like the possibility of merging income tax and the CSG. But the FN was also criticized: “Exiting the euro would be a catastrophe for France and would only plunge us into a bigger crisis and decrease purchasing power.” Christian Estrosi warns: “do not believe that they have changed their discourse, only the first name has changed, the name remains.” The main argument of the right: the pension reform, which was difficult but necessary, according to them, it shows the courage of Nicolas Sarkozy.
Disruptions
While about ten people from the Nissa Rebela group infiltrated the demonstration to proclaim: “Estrosi accomplice, no mosques in Nice.” The mayor reacted during the meeting: “it is easier to infiltrate ten people into a demonstration of 3000 than to gather 3000.” The identity advocates of Nissa Rebela claim: “that Christian Estrosi agrees to publicly debate with Philippe Vardon, and we will no longer need to seek him out in his meetings.”
