With the symbolic handing over of the Socialist Party office keys from Patrick Allemand to Xavier Garcia, a new chapter has begun within the departmental Federation.
Winner of the election with just over 76% of the votes, the new secretary expressed his satisfaction: “I am aware of the task ahead because the Alpes-Maritimes are a mission land for us,” he said once the result was announced.
In fact, around 500 party members turned out to express their choice. Is this enough to give the new elected official the necessary legitimacy to initiate the renovation project?
The problem arises because out of the 1,356 registered members, only about 700 were up to date with their dues and therefore eligible to vote.
The issue of disaffection is certainly the first problem Xavier Garcia will have to face, and resolve, if he wants the Socialist Party to become an essential player in local politics again.
His competitor, Jean-François Verdier, gracefully exits the election with an honorable score and the image of a committed activist, of which many more are needed.
His comment follows this line: “I congratulate Xavier and wish him true success. My presence allowed a democratic debate and prevented a sole candidacy, which would have equated the socialists with another party! In the future, if called upon, I will, as always, be there!”
At this moment, it would be unfair to forget the deliberate act of Patrick Allemand, who understood that the time had come to turn the page and that a new team should take the party’s reins. Even though this may seem logical, it is not always what happens in political reality.
The first major electoral meeting for Xavier Garcia’s PS06 will be the departmental elections, during which the socialists have a lot at stake, with the risk of disappearing from the Mercantour Boulevard assembly.
Xavier Garcia will need to be a skilled diplomat to restore collaboration and create the conditions for an alliance, following the mishaps with the Left Front in the Nice local elections and that party’s shift to opposition at the national level.
Moreover, the union of left-wing lists seems essential to block the UMP and the FN (or whatever these two parties will be called at that time).
The prediction of several second rounds between the two right-wing parties is more than a hypothesis in the most right-leaning department of France.
