Nice Premium proposed a set of questions to the candidates for the legislative elections in order to allow our readers to get to know them better, appreciate them, and thus help in their choice. The first to respond to our request was Jean-Christophe Picard, who will be the candidate for the Radical Left Party in the 3rd constituency of Nice.
Nice-Premium: How would you introduce yourself?
I am 40 years old, father of one child. I am a territorial attaché, working as a legal expert within a local community. I am also a part-time teaching assistant (I give a course on French and European public institutions) at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis.
I am the departmental president of the Radical Left Party (center-left) as well as the departmental head of Anticor (national association fighting against corruption).
NP: What is the reason for your political involvement?
Because I am angry! There is an urgent need to distribute wealth more equitably. It is also necessary to fundamentally renew the way politics is conducted.
NP: What are the strengths of your positioning towards the Azuréen electorate?
I propose to give a majority to François Hollande so he can fulfill his commitments. But I also believe a deputy must add value to this majority. That is why I enrich the presidential program by emphasizing three points that are particularly important to me: political ethics (only one mandate, renewable only once…), a federal Europe (with the establishment of a European economic government), and the Sixth Republic (notably with a rebalancing of powers within the executive branch).
NP: Why are you a candidate in this constituency?
I live there! And it is a constituency where the Radical Left Party is well established: in the 2007 legislative, the united left candidate in the 3rd constituency was Élodie Jomat (PRG). Moreover, Dominique Boy Mottard (PRG) was the general councilor in the 7th canton from 2005 to 2011. And Patrick Mottard (PRG) has been the general councilor of the 5th canton since 1998. Therefore, I believe I am best placed to make the left and ecology win in this territory.
NP: How would you define your constituency?
It is a very heterogeneous constituency, where very affluent neighborhoods and very disadvantaged neighborhoods mix. In short, it is a bit of a sample of France!
NP: What are, in your opinion, the first emergencies and initial projects to implement?
I believe that if the method is not good, the result will not be good. That is why I set a radical change in political practices as a prerequisite: adherence to ethics, transparency of the deputy’s actions, regular consultation with citizens… Otherwise, as an immediate measure, I propose to reform and modernize education orientation, which is currently completely flawed. This measure, easy to implement and inexpensive, would have very beneficial effects on unemployment figures in the short term.
NP: Do you think the Presidential election will influence the electoral choice?
The influence of the presidential election is enormous on the legislative elections: voters will position themselves for or against the new President of the Republic, which is logical. As a member of the PRG, which, like the PS, endorsed François Hollande, I am part of the presidential majority. If elected, I will therefore support the implementation of François Hollande’s “60 commitments for France.”
NP: What is your prediction for the first-round result?
It is very unlikely that the 2007 scenario will repeat. There could be a three-way contest, and I hope to be the candidate chosen by left-leaning citizens to represent the presidential majority in the second round.
NP: Can you imagine a hypothesis for the second round?
No. Anyway, everything will be decided in the first round.
NP: How is your campaign progressing, and what are your upcoming milestones?
You know, I am always on the ground, working on local and national issues throughout the year. For me, the campaign does not change much, except that I communicate a bit more.
NP: What will you do on the upcoming June 10?
I will go vote!
