On March 20th and 27th, the cantonal elections will take place throughout France. In Nice, eight cantons need to be renewed in this election. Discover the cantons and their candidates as well as our editorial predictions.
In the 3rd canton (Riquier, Saint Roch), held by Jacques Victor (PC) since 1998, seven candidates will try to win this mandate. Philippe Rossini (UMP), Philippe Vardon (Nissa Rebela), Gilles Zamolo (Parti niçois), Emmanuel Guillon (Parti Républicain), André Minetto (Europe Ecologie), and Lionel Tivoli (Front National), Christophe Ricerchi (Communists) will face the incumbent candidate Jacques Victor.
Nice Premium Prediction: Logically, Jacques Victor and Philippe Rossini should find themselves in the second round face-off. It is difficult to imagine any other candidate achieving 12.50% of the registered voters to join them for a three-way race.
The same scenario applies in the 5th canton. Patrick Mottard (PRG), general councilor of the canton since 1998, will have to defend his seat against seven other contenders. Benoit Loeuillet (Nissa Rebela), Roselyne Grac (left party), Didier Burdin (Debout la République), Thierry Vallier (Parti niçois), Catherine Moreau (New Center), Alexandre Mascagni (FN), and Jean-Pierre Pisoni (Ex-Left) will be his opponents.
Nice Premium Prediction: In this canton too, the second-round duel will likely be between Patrick Mottard and Catherine Moreau, both having been very active in the canton neighborhoods in recent weeks.
The 7th canton is led by Dominique Boy-Mottard since the partial cantonal election of 2005. Dominique Lescure (Nissa Rebela), Eric Belistan (Europe Ecologie), Bernard Baudin (UMP), Claude Senni (Parti niçois), Thierry Venem (FN), Claude Daumas (FASE) will be the six other aspirants.
Nice Premium Prediction: Another left-right face-off with a second round that should unsurprisingly pit Dominique Boy-Mottard against Bernard Baudin. A new local majority/opposition confrontation like in most of the Nice cantons.
Olivier Bettati (UMP) has held the 8th canton since 1994. For this new election, he will have to defend his seat against seven other candidates. They are Hervé Caël (SE), Bruno Ligonie (FN), Eric de Linares (Nissa Rebela), Jean-Christophe Picard (PRG), Dominique Laporte (Debout le République), Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux (Europe Ecologie), and Delphine Girard (Front de gauche).
Nice Premium Prediction: While Olivier Bettati seems assured of his place in the second round, it is not easy to predict who will accompany him on March 27th. A slight advantage goes to Jean-Christophe Picard and Hervé Caël, who seem closest to the second week.
In the 10th canton, Bernard Asso, general counselor since 1985, will face six opponents. Georges-Dario Lutchmayah (PS), Roxanne Georges (Nissa Rebela), Anthony Mitrano (Various Right), Jean-Philippe Lefevre (FN), Frédéric Carrez (Ex-Left), and Florence Ciaravola (Alternatives).
Nice Premium Prediction: Bernard Asso and Dario Lutchmayah seem to be the two favorites to face each other at the polls next Sunday.
In the 11th canton of Daniel Benchimol (UMP), six candidates are vying for the general counselor’s mandate held by Daniel Benchimol since 2007. Marie-Edith Cattet (Nissa Rebela), Philippe Pellegrini (PCF), Claude Giauffret (PS), Laurent Bacino (Front de Gauche), William Paris (FN), and Patrice Benoit (MoDem).
Nice Premium Prediction: While Daniel Benchimol seems to have a serene outlook for a second round, Claude Giauffret will have to be wary of William Paris and Patrice Benoit, who have been very active in the canton these past few weeks.
In the 12th canton, eight candidates are contesting. Benoit Kandel (UMP – incumbent candidate), Hervé de Surville (Union Pour Nice, supported by the Entente Républicaine, Debout La république, and the Parti Républicain), Aulde Maisonneuve (Nissa Rebela), Michel Cotta (FN), Josiane Vedovati (communist), Pierre Laigle (SE), Yvon Guesnier (Ext. Left), and Frédérique Grégoire-Concas (PS).
Nice Premium Prediction: A second round between Benoît Kandel and Frédérique Grégoire Concas seems inevitable as it is hard to see another candidate reaching the crucial 12.50% of registered voters.
Finally, in the 14th canton, the last canton to be renewed in this election, Paul Cuturello (PS) will have a tough challenge against Jacques Peyrat, former general councilor of the canton (1992-1998), and Dominique Estrosi-Sassone (UMP). The other candidates are Michelle Paulus (Ext. Left), Sandrine Bouesnard (Ext. Left), and Max Baeza (Ext. Right).
Nice Premium Prediction: It will take a clever person to predict the names of the two or three candidates who will qualify at the end of the first round. Paul Cuturello and Dominique Estrosi-Sassone seem best equipped to pass this Sunday hurdle.
