Christophe Pierrel, the former chief of staff of Michèle Rubirola could occupy a position of “facilitator” between the political, sporting, associative and environmental worlds in the context of the Winter Olympic Games, if they are indeed attributed to the French Alps .
Renaud Muselier is carrying out a real victory and a double blow. Both on the regional level for the Olympic future, and on the Marseille level for its political future. The president of the Southern region should soon benefit from added weight in the race for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games, for which the French Alps file was the only one retained by the International Olympic Committee. Until July 24, the date on which the Committee’s choice will be made official, no official communication will be made. However, the name of Gapençais Christophe Pierrel circulates insistently in Renaud Muselier’s entourage. According to our information, the two men want to work together to make the 2030 Olympics a flagship event unanimously supported from Briançon to Marseille.
As soon as the games are guaranteed, Christophe Pierrel could occupy a strategic position in this Olympic adventure, that of “facilitator” between the political, economic, sporting and environmental worlds. It must be said that the socialist knows the mysteries of power well. Former deputy chief of staff to François Hollande at the Élysée before joining the private sector and the Vinci group where he was chairman of the board of directors of the Bordeaux stadium, Christophe Pierrel has worked the Marseille field in recent years. Chief of staff of Mayor Michèle Rubirola until the latter’s resignation in December 2020, Gapencais had once again bounced back by becoming the linchpin of the great “School Plan” in the team of current mayor Benoît Payan.
“Pierrel, it’s a very good idea. For political reasons and for knowledge of the territory. He is a professional who will put all the people involved in contact,” predicts a close friend of Renaud Muselier.
A political calculation
Until the official award of the Games, the team around the regional president will expand. Yvan Chaix, director of the Hautes-Alpes Economic and Tourist Development Agency and Joël Migliore, advisor to Christian Estrosi in charge of sports, are already doing a lot of work in the shadows.
Christophe Pierrel should bring an even more political touch. And especially from the left. “We must recognize the intelligence of Renaud Muselier in seeking out all the skills of the territory. Because the issue is not a political divide. The issue is this project that is of no common measure for the entire region,” we whisper in those around the Gapençais. Renaud Muselier and Christophe Pierrel have often maintained the political divide. In the regional elections, at the time when Christophe Castaner was head of the list in the Marseille municipal elections, the two men had crossed swords as opponents. But they respect each other and have always been able to find mutual qualities. Political calculation is part of it. By securing the services of Christophe Pierrel, Renaud Muselier could benefit from a skillful strategist with a view to the municipal elections in Marseille in 2026. The Haut-Alpin knows by heart the functioning and the entourage of the “Payan camp”.
At the same time, by accepting this mission in support of the 2030 Olympics, Christophe Pierrel is returning to the spotlight and will occupy the Gapencais media space that he tiptoed away from during the last municipal elections. The mayor (various right) of Gap Roger Didier, like his opposition on the left which is struggling to unite, are warned. If Christophe Pierrel perks up politically and in the media, he would not deny himself an ambitious return to the Gap scene.
“He’s burnt out in Gap,” says a connoisseur of local political life.
“This is not a partisan subject”
In the meantime, the elected officials of Hautes-Alpes should necessarily work with Christophe Pierrel to carry out the Olympic adventure until 2030, if it is confirmed. “The idea is to create a general momentum. And if his name is circulating, it is because he is capable of bringing something. What is at stake here for the Southern Alps has no equivalent, the issue is historic and everyone must take ownership of it,” breathes a Haut-Alpine who has been participating for several months in obtaining these Winter Games.
For his part, the main person concerned is amused by this situation. On vacation, Christophe Pierrel agreed to respond to BFM DICI. If he does not confirm the discussions with Renaud Muselier, the one who returned to the private sector since last September is already sowing small stones: “The Winter Olympic Games for the region and our Alpine territory, it’s great and that interests me. Anything I can do for this dynamic, I will do.”
Before concluding: “This is not a partisan subject and all the actors, political, sporting, economic and ecological must transcend themselves. All sectors must take their part. Concerning the development of the territory or even the train, this adventure is fascinating.”
