One, Thierry Mariani, has been a French champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, the other, Renaud Muselier, a French champion in karate: both will be candidates for the presidency of the Region in the upcoming June elections.
The two former “Siamese brothers” (the outgoing president had been the campaign director for the then-candidate in 2010 when the mission of the Vaucluse deputy was to face Michel Vauzelle and … Jean-Marie Le Pen), now turned arch-enemies, are the favorites to compete for victory in the runoff.
Since then, much water has passed under the bridge: Renaud Muselier, a protégé of Christian Estrosi in 2015, replaced him at the head of the regional executive when the mayor of Nice returned to focus on his city. He is part of the Republican right (LR) that juggles (sometimes it’s yes, sometimes it’s no, often it’s neither) with Emmanuel Macron’s government. Thierry Mariani has found comfort in the hard right of Marine Le Pen.
The polls indicate an uncertain result: given their youthful sporting achievements, couldn’t they settle their matter the old-fashioned way, on the tatami, suggest the many mutual friends who will have to decide which ballot to cast?
