French citizens, annoyed with former prime minister Manuel Valls, have started a petition calling for him to move to Barcelona and stand as Ciutadans' candidate for mayor.
The manifesto admits it's a proposal in bad faith for Valls to leave France. They are especially critical of the former prime minister and interior minister's style of governing: "Catalonia, racked by debates, you will realise with relief that today you live in peace because he will transform your passions into furious hysteria, your prejudices into hate. It's his way of governing! And when you all hate each other? Then he'll betray you!"
According to the petition's authors, what they describe as Valls' success in Barcelona would be their success in France too, ridding themselves of him. "For the first time, the most-hated politician in France is bringing about unanimity. For the first time, we have a historical opportunity against his eternal opportunism."
"Beloved Barcelona, sacrificed Barcelona, but Barcelona of all our gratitude, accept our offering on trust with all the affection you would grant to a spoiled, angry child.
The ironic text declares "support, with unreserved enthusiasm, for the sudden candidacy of Manuel Valls to Barcelona City Council".
It doesn't shy away from evoking his controversial career in French politics, saying that a potential move to Barcelona would free the country of "the worst violence, lies, staleness, speaker tricks, denials, lobbying, careerism, hypocrisy and insincerity, of the worst authoritarian practices, political ploys and political fickleness".
The manifesto, which says it expresses the views of French people of all kinds, comes complete with a picture taking inspiration from Joan Miró and the Surrealist movement.
The complete petition reads:
Support for Manuel Valls' candidacy to Barcelona City Hall
We undersign, French people of all origins, more or less trueborn because [we're all] of mixed blood,
French people of all colours, black, Arab, white,
French people of all parties, from the right, from the left, from the far-centre,
French people, atheists, of all religions, deists, mystics,
We declare with the present petition our support, with unreserved enthusiasm, for the sudden candidacy of Manuel Valls to Barcelona City Council.
Because, for the first time, we have the opportunity to unite in support of his project.
Because, for the first time, the most-hated politician in France is bringing about unanimity.
Because, for the first time, we have a historical opportunity against his eternal opportunism.
We hereby finally see a sign of a possible happy common destiny.
Relieved of exacerbated disagreement in political debate,
Relieved of systematic ethnic and social stigmatisation,
Relieved of the worst violence, lies, staleness, speaker tricks, denials, lobbying, careerism, hypocrisy and insincerity, of the worst authoritarian practices, political ploys and political fickleness.
In the end, his success with you will be ours here [too]!
Regarding this, we no longer have the strength to defend his record at our risk and hardly enough to give you licence to welcome this monolith of opportunism.
Also, beloved Barcelona, sacrificed Barcelona but Barcelona of all our gratitude, accept our offering on trust with all the affection granted to a spoiled, angry child.
Catalonia, stirred by debates, you will realise with relief that today you live in peace because he will transform your passions into furious hysteria, your prejudices into hate.
It's his way of governing!
And when you all hate each other? Then he'll betray you!
From the French to the inhabitants of Barcelona.