The word “fencing” (from Scandinavian skrimen or German skremen) means “the art of self-defense.”
This is what Christian Estrosi has been applying for two years and a few months in the face of incessant attacks from his rival Eric Ciotti.
More precisely, since the mayor of Nice called for voting Macron in the second round of the presidential election, while Eric Ciotti, probably shocked by the exclusion of “his” candidate François Fillon, remained silent in an embarrassing manner. It had to be understood, after seeing himself as Minister of the Interior, he would have had to go back to square one to keep his local deputy position…
Since this election, while the Mayor of Nice was becoming familiar with the new President and his Government and co-founding a new political subject, Les Audacieux, by playing the territorial card, Eric Ciotti launched into an anti-government crusade, further supporting Laurent Wauquiez’s candidacy for the presidency of Les Républicains and his reactionary right-right line.
In the meantime, the priority of his action was dedicated to creating the conditions for the sidelining of Christian Estrosi, accused of undeclared Macronism while he was a fierce opponent of Emmanuel Macron, the government (he even donned the yellow vest when he thought the street might overthrow the current power) and more particularly the Minister of the Interior (the criticisms directed at Francis Collomb were severe, but his successor Castaner – seen as an usurper of the position he viewed as his own – was subject only to invectives).
Naturally, behind the eternal formula “of values and principles” of the party that Christian Estrosi allegedly flouted, the real objective of the former president of the Departmental Council was evidently to eliminate the outgoing mayor to run in his place for the mayoral position in Nice, under the LR candidacy (by the way, having taken the presidency of the commission responsible for assigning them).
Act by act, episode by episode, this is the chronicle of this period of time.
Except that time passes and the municipal elections approach. And despite his injunctions, Christian Estrosi has never been formally caught at fault: he criticized the political line of his party, kept his distance from its management, declared himself open to occasional collaboration with the current power (in return, well-intentioned for that), but he remained registered with LR and never crossed the line of serious misconduct (he even called to vote for the LF list in the European elections).
Then the European elections, the catastrophic management, and even more catastrophic result highlighted that the famous “values and principles” were merely a poor copy of those of the lepenist RN, logically rewarded by the voters contrary to this false copy.
With Laurent Wauquiez’s resignation, the party in reconstruction but with the prospect of a political line quite different from that of which Eric Ciotti was one of the architects, what could he do but play all his cards?
We reach the final act: an open letter to denounce the ambiguities (or double game) of Christian Estrosi: LR or LREM candidate – Eric Ciotti maliciously asks – taking advantage of an interview of the latter with the general delegate of LREM?
Unfortunately for him, his game is too banal and explicit not to be understood, even by the kind souls inhabiting the local political microcosm (rather a circus, isn’t it?).
It’s true that tactically Christian Estrosi has every interest in not having an official LREM candidate opposed to him to maximize votes from this electorate that is closer to him than any other candidates – a matter of building momentum at the ballot box in the first round against RN candidate Philippe Vardon who, beyond his unflattering reputation, is a prepared and tough character.
It is also true that presenting himself with his party’s endorsement would be an imprimatur (furthermore, the commission for endorsements, chaired by Eric Ciotti, has opportunely postponed the decision on this file to October after the election of the party’s new president), but if you flipped the coin, what could one imagine seeing?
We would have a Christian Estrosi, independent candidate of Nice Ensemble, facing an LR candidate (Eric Ciotti), which would tear apart the clan-based system of power that has managed, albeit only just, the city until now.
And when interests are at stake… it doesn’t take much imagination to visualize that the battle would be bloody and not without casualties.
Hence the question: What interest does LR have – which must rebuild if it wants to have at least a minimal chance for the 2022 presidential election – in offering such an embarrassing and counterproductive spectacle?
To achieve what, except satisfying the personal ambition of a leader who, since 2012, has missed everything (2012 presidential, 2017 presidential, 2019 European elections) in terms of analysis and result?
And if, as it seems likely, Christian Estrosi were to be the winner of this challenge? Would losing a major mayoralty be without national consequences?
Then we can quite understand Eric Ciotti’s ambition to inscribe his name as the mayor of Nice, his thirst to defeat today’s rival after having been his first collaborator yesterday (we will never know where this personal hatred originates from?), the regret of rendering his work of presence and groundwork on the territory for winning the people’s and associations’ favor unnecessary, but sometimes…
Returning to the “art of self-defense” and picking up the thread… an attack is met with a parry. And if the attack fails, one exposes oneself to the counterattack.
