An unexpected scene this Thursday at the metropolitan council of Nice. In the midst of a discussion about the financing of the future Nice Convention Center, eighteen elected officials, including sixteen mayors, left the session. They denounce their non-invitation to a preparatory meeting and criticize the management of Christian Estrosi.
Indeed, not a metropolitan council meeting goes by without some drama. Five months after the surprise “resignation” of Christian Estrosi from the presidency due to divergences within the assembly, tensions have risen again in the chamber. After an hour and a half of the session, Xavier Beck, mayor of Cap-d’Ail, speaks up. He tells Christian Estrosi: “You are trampling on the founding principles of this assembly. We should have discussed the future Convention Center with all the mayors as is normally expected.” He finds it unthinkable to approve a resolution that would impose this financing on the Metropolis.
Christian Estrosi responds immediately. For him, the break in cohesion is not due to him, but “to those who have insulted the metropolis, who have decided by choice or by following to take the path of the far right.” The statement inflames the assembly. Eighteen elected officials stand up, leave the room, and boo the president.
These officials regret not being invited to the preparatory meeting. They reiterate their refusal to sign the trust charter required by the president of the Metropolis, seeing it as “a sort of blank check.” A village mayor also protests against the financing of the Convention Center: “A project for the people of Nice, who’s going to fund my community hall?”
Towards a Lasting Fracture in the Metropolis?
Among the rebellious officials are Xavier Beck, Christophe Trojani, mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Bertrand Gasiglia, mayor of Tourrette-Levens. They firmly refuse to transfer the financing of the Convention Center from the city’s budget to that of the Metropolis. “We are not far right. Here in the Metropolis, there are normally no parties, we work together,” states an indignant official.
Christelle D’Intorni, UDR (Ciottiste) deputy, believes this incident marks a turning point for local politics: “The municipal campaign has been underway in Nice for some time already.” For her, this episode is a stage in a broader battle that promises further tensions.
This mass departure signals future tensions in the Metropolitan Council. The Convention Center has become a major point of disagreement between Christian Estrosi and his opponents. And there should be more to come…