Nice Plurielle, led by Patrick Mottard, spoke during a press conference at city hall on Tuesday about the “affairs” in Nice: “We ask Jacques Peyrat to give the people of Nice a chance to express their opinion and to check the status of his popularity.” In summary, Nice Plurielle is asking for the resignation of Senator-Mayor Jacques Peyrat. “This is the simplest solution under these circumstances, especially for someone who claims a certain military flair,” noted Sylvie Monticelli, municipal councilor for Nice Plurielle.
Aware of the unlikely resignation of Jacques Peyrat or the dissolution of the Municipal Council, the members of Nice Plurielle have considered other remedies.
Patrick Mottard wrote to Nicolas Sarkozy, Minister of the Interior: “Since 2001, the City of Nice has been the scene of numerous corruption scandals (…) Despite his promises, the mayor has neither wanted nor been able to stem this tide of corruption (…) After this latest affair, it is no longer possible to let a disqualified mayor and a discredited majority make decisions that will heavily impact the future of our city. In this context, allowing the term to end would be irresponsible. That’s why I have the honor of asking you, as President of the Nice Plurielle group at the Nice Municipal Council, to present a decree in the Council of Ministers, in accordance with Article L.2121-6 of the General Code of Territorial Collectivities, announcing the dissolution of the Nice Municipal Council.” Frédérique Grégoire-Concas adds: “Nicolas Sarkozy talks about a breakup. It would be nice if he followed through completely.”
Patrick Mottard also sent a letter to Pierre Breuil, Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, requesting a “temporary suspension order for the Municipal Council,” and to Christian Estrosi, President of the UMP in Alpes-Maritimes, to express his opinions on the ongoing affairs : “The people of Nice would be grateful if you finally addressed this issue. A political leader, especially a minister of the Republic, cannot afford to look the other way when a storm is ravaging his own camp.”
Therefore, Nice Plurielle is deploying its strategies to bring about a change at the helm of France’s fifth-largest city. The strategy is clear: if neither Nicolas Sarkozy, Christian Estrosi, nor Pierre Breuil intervenes, it would signify that they are protecting Jacques Peyrat and his municipal majority. This is the conclusion that Nice Plurielle would draw anyway.
Some info:
The municipality will be a civil party in the Veran/Meunier Jourde case. This was not the case in the Anne-Marie Vaille affair.
Nice Plurielle is concerned about the “Nice, European Capital of Culture” project which they supported but which was championed by Martial Meunier-Jourde.
The next City Council meeting will be held on Friday, July 7. Nice Plurielle promises to do nothing special on this occasion.
