Villefranche sur Mer: The City of Fear

“Mangiapan’s business in Monaco is 3 to 4 million euros!”. “The Mayor wanted to give a private beach concession to his son!”. “The furniture for the Town Hall is still not paid off!”. Pagnol-style Marseilles underworld? No, Villefranche, still in shock from what can be called the Grosgogeat-Mangiapan affair. The residents are disappointed, rumors are swirling, but are only disclosed under anonymity. “We feel orphaned” most Villefranchois confide. The problem is thorny, the speculations of various parties are accordingly intricate, mistrust prevails.

A brief overview of the summer events, with Jean-Marie[[* names have been changed]], a local figure evidently well-informed about municipal politics. “Grosgogeat intended to groom his successor during this term”. At first glance, his heir could have been Master André Bezzina, number two on his list. “Residents suspected a change during the term. He is too old to run in the next municipal elections, and Bezzina is very well-liked here” states our expert, shaded by his umbrella. Despite this, André Bezzina is “replaced” by Mr. Mangiapan following Gérard Grosgogeat’s election. Pressures? Political maneuvering? Still, Jean-Pierre Mangiapan “was quickly accepted by all. Friendly, approachable, his only fault was to have taken the position of first deputy for obscure reasons”.

Between Indulgence and Anger

And this is where the matter gets complicated. Christine, sitting among tourists, explains that “Grosgogeat genuinely withdrew from political life shortly after the elections. Mangiapan was at all public events, and most of the town hall’s correspondence was written by him”. These facts are corroborated by Villefranche merchants. So why does Gérard Grosgogeat get elected only to step back later, if not to prepare a successor? Yet Jean-Pierre Mangiapan “comes from Nice, and we didn’t elect him. He was imposed on us” Jean-Marie reminds. Again, the question of pressure arises.

The Villefranchois are torn between indulgence and anger. However, they “are not fooled”, according to their own terms, which they only assume under the cover of anonymity. The “transfer of power” from Gérard Grosgogeat was “an open secret”. But now, they are in a quandary. Among the merchants, “nothing progresses anymore, since there is no one to make decisions”, they talk about “general disorganization”. Many wish for a “citizen movement”, an “appeal for a new vote”. But who to vote for? The Villefranchois agree on one point: “enough with politics, focus on proximity!”. Their Mayor is “liked by all”, but “the disappointment is great”. “He would have done better to leave before, rather than burn himself out in this affair” says Jeanne between two bites of pan bagnat. Frustrated by all these maneuvers, she and many others want to “move on”, and no longer be “taken for fools”. In Villefranche, walls have ears and the residents, tongues that loosen easily…