Cannes mayor responds to activist's question

The mayor of Cannes, who is running for president, responded to a question from Lola-Fleur Whittaker, a leftist activist, with the phrase "j'en ai rien à foutre" during a live television appearance on LCI. The phrase translates to "I don't care" and was used in response to Whittaker's inquiry about the 1961 massacre in Paris, an event that occurred during the French colonial period.

Context of the historical question

Whittaker, described as a student affiliated with the left-wing party LFI, asked the mayor about the October 17, 1961, massacre, during which French police killed dozens of Algerian protesters. The mayor, Christian Lisnard, responded that he "wasn't born" then and referenced the independence of Algeria, which was achieved in 1962.

Mayor's perspective on the exchange

Lisnard's response was interpreted as a sign of frustration, possibly because he felt Whittaker was trying to trap him into a discussion about events he did not personally experience. The article suggests that Lisnard, who has a strong grasp of history, was aware of the significance of October 17 but chose not to engage further.

Political implications of the response

The exchange was seen as going beyond the immediate topic, with Lisnard expressing irritation at what he viewed as the left's repeated revisiting of historical events to support their political positions. He argued that the right should also question the left's admiration for revolutionary groups and regimes responsible for significant deaths.

Rejection of historical guilt

The article interpreted Lisnard's response as a sign of relief, allowing him to break free from a historical framework that had long constrained the conservative camp. His statement was seen as a small revolution against the left's presumed guilt and lingering bad conscience, which he felt had unfairly burdened conservatives.