"Unlike those who perhaps only think about a personal agenda, I wanted to vote for confidence": the return of LR 06, around Michèle Tabarot, between cohesion and divergences

On the occasion of its political comeback, the Les Républicains federation of the Alpes-Maritimes brought together a thousand members this Sunday in Le Cannet, around Michèle Tabarot, departmental president. A first of this kind. Last year, the federation, in the midst of a crisis following the departure of Éric Ciotti, had not scheduled the event. "A trauma," recalled Senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, who denounced "the betrayal of the departmental and national president," who had formed an alliance with the RN without consulting his party.

This return to school was an opportunity for the Maralpine federation, which now has 7,000 members, to take stock of the past year. "A year ago, we chose to join the government of Michel Barnier, then that of François Bayrou, to avoid chaos, to prevent the far left, dangerous for our country, from coming to power," insisted Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, before recalling that " because it wants stability for our country."

Absence of several local figures

"I regretted the vote of some of our deputies, whom I am particularly fond of, but who wanted to bring down the government, probably for fear of dissolution," added Philippe Tabarot, the resigning Minister of Transport.

In the Alpes-Maritimes, in addition to the six National Rally (RN) and UDR (UDR) deputies, the two other LR deputies, Alexandra Martin and Éric Pauget, did not vote for confidence, contributing to the government's collapse. The latter two were not present at the LR's political resumption this Sunday. Neither was Alexandra Martin's deputy and mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard. Also missing were the president of the departmental council, Charles Ange Ginésy, senators Henri Leroy and Alexandra Borchio Fontimp, and the mayor of Antibes, Jean Leonetti.

"Those who only think about a personal agenda"

"Unlike those who may only be thinking about a personal agenda, I wanted to vote for confidence," Michèle Tabarot insisted during her speech. "Why? Because we cannot, on the one hand, commit to supporting a government, demand millions of euros in subsidies for our territories, and then ultimately bring down the government that allows us to obtain them."

While Sébastien Lecornu, "a right-wing man who learned his trade at the UMP," appointed to Matignon on Wednesday, is currently forming his government, the deputy for the 9th constituency, advisor to LR president Bruno Retailleau and quaestor at the National Assembly, clarified: "With the Republicans, we are ready for dialogue, but we continue to support this triptych: no tax increase, no reduction in pensions for retirees and a budgetary recovery solely through savings." She notably mentioned "a major law against social security fraud, rather than the elimination of the two public holidays" proposed by François Bayrou.

Soon an LR investiture for Louis Sarkozy in Menton?

Earlier, Michèle Tabarot had recalled the local elections: "We are going to have an exciting year . Very quickly, we will bring together our bodies to prepare and invest our candidates for the next municipal elections," she announced.

She praised "the one who is starting his political life but who has experience that few have: Louis Sarkozy, for Menton. If the investiture committee validates him, we will be at his side." The son of the former President of the Republic , who was present on stage next to Joseph Segura, mayor of Saint-Laurent-du-Var, announced that he would be a candidate in Menton in 2026 on Monday, September 8. "For the moment, I have no label," he said at the time.

"Ambiguity" at the departmental council denounced again

Welcoming the departmental councillors present, Didier Carretero and Sophie Nasica, the head of LR 06 returned to one of her battles: clarifying "this ambiguity which exists within the departmental council".

"We find in the majority group parliamentarians who bring down the government and others who support it," she recalled. "When I saw that Michel Barnier, who was from our political family, was put to death, and then, in the Department, the majority group remains the same [with UDR elected officials Éric Ciotti, Christelle d'Intorni and Bernard Chaix], that poses some difficulties for me. I would really like us to manage, while supporting President Charles Ange Ginésy, to create different groups. We cannot accept sitting with people who also want chaos in our country."

Was this last statement only addressed to the UDR deputies who sit in the Department?