In Saint-Martin-Vésubie (Alpes-Maritimes),
“I came to see the future President of the Republic”, launches Jean-Marie, 75, near the town hall of Saint-Martin-Vésubie. He waits for Valérie Pécresse. For her first campaign trip, the Republican presidential candidate chose the village of Eric Ciotti, “a promise we made after the first round,” said the latter.
For this first official visit, despite minor friction after the victory of the president of the Ile-de-France region, the two elected officials have been “united” all day. First during a one-to-one lunch at La petite maison in Nice, until their arrival in Saint-Martin-Vésubie, still together, where they laid two wreaths at the war memorial, one in memory to the Righteous, another for the victims of the storm Alex. “So you came to see the couple of the year”, did not hesitate to let go of the LR candidate in front of the media near the town hall of the village. A few moments later, they showed up on the balcony of the town hall.
“They will be forced to compose both”
In front of the Saint-Martinois, during a public meeting on the terrace of Vésubia Moutain Park, they each presented themselves in turn as sharing “the same base of values”. Convinced “for years” of the policy of Eric Ciotti, some inhabitants “will follow this [qu’il] said ”, enough to vote for the former adviser to Jacques Chirac. “She brings together everyone behind her, she has opinions that unite everyone,” says Hugues, 74 years old. Lucette, 82, adds: “We are really into Ciotti, I saw him born. We have always been on the right here. I will vote for Valérie Pécresse and I hope that the native child will be a minister. “
Others comment: “They will have to compose together”. Isabelle, who lost her house and two friends in the storm Alex, recognizes “this strong gesture” on the part of the Ile-de-France even if she was “disappointed” not to see “the local child win this nomination”.
“He goes further than me”
It is therefore not difficult to find support from Eric Ciotti in Saint-Martin-Vésubie. With the applause, it seems that Valérie Pécresse has also convinced a few hundred of the 1,427 inhabitants. And policies. Several mayors of the surrounding municipalities came for the occasion, in particular Sébastien Olharan, representative of Breil-sur-Roya but also the president of the departmental council, Charles Ange Ginésy and deputies like Eric Pauget.
But behind appearances, there are points of disagreement. Sunday evening, the member of the Alpes-Maritimes castigated that “the message of Valérie Pécresse was not the good one”. This Monday afternoon, she was able to reassure him. “The heir to Charles Pasqua”, as she calls him, will have “a very singular place in [sa] campaign “. “Even if he goes further than me, I’ll see if my project can be spiced up. Together, we will have the courage to reform France. She uses the image of the village brought “to its knees” by the storm, “able to get up” to present its program for France. The deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes assured for his part that he “would fight with all his might for her to win the presidential election”.