“It’s an original place, between the swimming pool and the ice rink, elevated and central,” says Loïc Dombreval, responsible along with Karine Lambert for the Democratic Movement of the Alpes-Maritimes, finding a symbol in the chosen location (the restaurant at the Jean Bouin sports complex) for the press conference marking the Modem’s return. The media did not rush in, yet François Bayrou’s local representatives had things to say. Loïc Dombreval explains: “There was a lot of talk in our name, so we decided to speak out. We want to prove that the Modem is very much alive.” The Modem is not dead. The number of members has doubled and is now 1,000, including 400 in Nice. A coordination team is developing projects for 20 towns in the Alpes Maritimes, around Karine Lambert, Loïc Dombreval, Fabien Bénard, Hervé Caël, Marie-Lise Charue, Olivier Grébille, Valérie Sabau dit Serban, Pascale Vaillant, Edwige Madec-Vercnocke (see photo). François Bayrou’s party invites all those interested to join it to do politics differently by advocating openness, gender parity, and with people close to the field, from civil society, who do not have ambitions for a political career. This spirit enabled François Bayrou to gather 18% of the votes in the first round of the presidential elections. Modem 06 aims to keep this spirit alive in the department.
“We start from people’s daily lives to develop a common foundation that will be adapted to each city,” specifies Pascale Vaillant, who is expected to run in Cannes. “Expected”: the Modem does not officialize its lead candidates and will wait to announce them once the projects are well advanced. “The projects are more important than the people,” justifies Karine Lambert. In Nice, Hervé Caël will be the candidate. It’s almost a certainty. Hervé Caël does not hide his desire to run. He is the only one who has applied, and the Modem cannot be absent from the municipal election of the fifth largest city in France.
Regarding potential alliances for the 1st or 2nd round, everything will be decided city by city. The strategy is simple: at the Modem, a program is developed, the other candidates’ programs are reviewed, and then, if necessary, discussions around the projects might take place. Karine Lambert summarizes: “Discussion is in the Modem’s genes. Discussions will be open. They will progress at the pace of the projects. Everything will depend on local realities.”
Joining a candidate from the left or right is thus not currently on the agenda. In Nice, it is already excluded to join Jacques Peyrat and all candidates even further to the right. The Modem prefers to remain a spectator in the “Patrick wars” (Allemand and Mottard) and the waiting game of Christian Estrosi (UMP), which could change the candidacies of Jean Icart (Miscellaneous Right) and Rudy Salles (New Centre). The Modem acknowledges that there are contacts with almost everyone.
The Modem’s current motto is “We work without worrying about others.” Undoubtedly, sooner or later, as the election approaches, and even if it is not part of its original plan, the Modem will be compelled to engage in political maneuvering.
