Often invited to raise their elbows, especially at the Agricultural Show, elected officials have found ways to stay sober during their travels.
By Nicolas Barreiro for Le Point
© Vincent MOUCHEL / MAXPPP / PHOTOPQR/WEST FRANCE/MAXPPP
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Dince its opening on February 25, ministers, deputies, senators, mayors and other elected officials have paraded at the Salon de l’agriculture in Paris. Along the stands, they are often invited for a drink or two. This innocent proposal can sometimes backfire, which is why they are now being resourceful in politely refusing to raise their elbow, reports The Parisian. “We are solicited all the time, the temptation is great. You have to be vigilant, it’s very dangerous, ”says Nicolas Lacroix, president of the Haute-Marne departmental council on a daily basis. According to him, refusing a drink “could be perceived as a lack of conviviality”.
In order to avoid ending up in embarrassment, Jean-Michel Jacques, MP for Morbihan, has developed an effective strategy: “I keep my glass in my hand for a long time without touching it. If it’s full, I’m not bothered. If it’s empty, I’m dead,” he explains. “We must go home immediately after the meeting,” said Jean-Louis Le Masle, mayor of Inguiniel in Morbihan.
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Refuse to drink to improve your image
Some elected officials publicly display their opposition to alcohol. In Lambersart, near Lille, Mayor Nicolas Bouche has decided to toast with tomato juice or orange juice. During official ceremonies, the city councilor even prohibited the free distribution of alcohol. “I don’t understand that the community offers a toxic product,” he said. Fanny Chappé, the mayor of Paimpol, in the Côtes-d’Armor, wants to make her sobriety an electoral argument. “My mother, who was deputy mayor of Lorient, told me: ‘Be careful, I’m warning you about social alcoholism’”, she recalls. The chosen one now highlights her sports practice, running, which allows her to relieve the pressure linked to her position.