Andre Santini suspended

You may remember me mentioning the charismatic Andre Santini, mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, one of Paris’s southwestern border villages. I told you how he likes to get out on the street and chat with people in town. He always has something specific to say at the civil weddings he performs and those that have been fortunate to make his acquaintance are mightily impressed by his knowledge of French history - in particular - the days of Napoleon - in many ways as glory-filled as the era of Louis XIV.

So, is it any surprise that he might staunchly support Nicolas Sarkozy’s bid for the French presidency? Sarkozy who’s platform has often dwelled on ‘law, order and bringing France up to speed in a very competitive world’.

According to today’s www.lefigaro.com (Feb 21′07), it was most certainly a dismaying surprise to the U.D.F. party (to which he belongs, performing as Hauts-de-Seine deputy). The U.D.F. party would prefer unified support for candidate Francois Bayrou.

But here’s the quote that really should be the opening line for ANY sequel to Victor Hugo (if you wouldn’t risk getting sued by distant offspring!):
Santini states: “Je ne rallie pas un parti. Je rallie un homme- je rallie un projet. Je demeure libre dans un parti qui se dit libre.”
Or: “I don’t stand up for a party. I stand up for a man. I stand up for a plan. I remain free within a party that calls itself free.”
Whew. Heady words. Gutsy words.
With guys like Santini standing up for you, Sarkozy should be already thinking about how he’ll trim the rose garden at Elysees.
However French voters finally decide to vote, they have a number of excellent candidates from which to choose.