The PS will not organize a primary on the left to designate the top candidate for the municipal election in Nice. There will be one in Marseille (850,000 inhabitants), Le Havre (180,000 inhabitants), Aix-en-Provence (150,000 inhabitants) but not in Nice (350,000 inhabitants)!
Above all, it is important to remember that the primary was not only the method to choose the best candidate and provide them with the strongest possible legitimacy. It was also the solution to bring together all the political parties of the presidential majority. By forgoing it, the PS clearly shows that it has given up on making the left win in Nice.
Thus, it is undoubtedly a personal victory for Patrick Allemand, who was the only one to defend this option. But, isn’t it a Pyrrhic victory?
For Jean-Christophe Picard, president of PRG 06, and an unconditional supporter of the primaries: “First of all, to achieve this result, Patrick Allemand did not hesitate to play fast and loose with the truth. While he announced everywhere that he would comply with the decision of the PS national leadership, we learned that the question of a primary in Nice was not even examined! Why? Alain Fontanel, the national secretary of the PS for federations, provided the explanation: ‘The 06 federation did not request it. […] Therefore, the question is not currently on the agenda.’ [1]. After that, one might legitimately have doubts about the sincerity of the 06 PS First Secretary!
In any case, it is paradoxical that the person who prevented the organization of this modern procedure is also the one who proclaimed himself ‘In Charge of the PS 06 Renovation.’ From then on, one can only be pessimistic about the future of the said renovation within this federation!
Similarly, it is surprising that the same person who calls for a referendum on tramway line 2 deems such consultation unnecessary to choose the one who might become mayor. One can only wonder about this sudden mistrust towards citizens!”
The verdict is in, and it remains to be seen now what the natural candidates such as Patrick Mottard or Marc Concas, who are unlikely to join the socialist candidacy camp, will do.
Rumor has it that the two men have more than just gotten closer and that a list could take shape with some surprising elements regarding certain political figures who might be part of it.
To be continued…
