There will ultimately be ten candidates at the starting line of this cantonal election for canton No. 1 in the city of Nice: Marc Concas (PS-MRC-Greens), Eric Ciotti (UMP), Cรฉline Lacroix (Nice Autrement), Doriane Duconseille (LCR), Michel Franรงois (MEI), Dominique Lescure (Identitaires), Colette Mรด-Bois (PCF), Christophe Ricerchi (Communists), Lydia Schenardi (FN) and Alain Roullier (Independent). Six candidates are termed “left-wing” for four “right-wing” candidates, with eyes already on a second round that sees two qualifiers: the incumbent socialist General Councilor, Marc Concas and the UMP Deputy, Eric Ciotti, who are both key advisors for their parties’ municipal candidates, Patrick Allemand and Christian Estrosi. The question remains: will there be a second round?
Just like the municipal elections, the cantonal election is subject to fluctuations in local or national news, conversations refocusing on the event, various meetings, and other public gatherings, but while the municipal election has its polls, the cantonal election gathers its trends directly from the street. Candidates multiply encounters, chain neighborhood meetings between the old city and the port, communicate through flyers or via their websites for those who have one. The final stretch should not alter the predictions of a close race between Marc Concas, who declares himself “serene and confident before this meeting,” and Eric Ciotti, who thinks of himself as “an unnecessary general councilor.” Could another candidate join this high-flying, multifaceted duo? Pollsters tend to say no, but numbers and forecasts are quite perilous these past few weeks, and the candidacies of Cรฉline Lacroix (Nice Autrement) and FN’s municipal candidate, Lydia Schenardi, will bring a feminine touch to the duel, but the road to the second round will still be very long for each of them.
Therefore, a second round between Marc Concas and Eric Ciotti seems the most reasonable assumption, and as such, all scores made by other candidates will be weighed in the electoral balance, and in this game of weight and measure, the incumbent general councilor might have a slight advantage benefiting from votes cast for left-wing candidates. A tight struggle thus begins in this canton with a strong Niรงois identity which, after having experienced years of right-wing management, seems to have nonetheless become quite accustomed to this general councilor on the right… of the left.
Candidates in the cantonal election:
– Eric Ciotti (UMP)
– Marc Concas (PS), incumbent General Councilor
– Doriane Duconseille (LCR)
– Michel Franรงois (MEI)
– Cรฉline Lacroix (Civil Society – Nice Autrement)
– Dominique Lescure (Identitaires)
– Colette Mรด-Bois (PCF)
– Christophe Richerchi (Communists)
– Alain Roullier (Independent)
– Lydia Schenardi (National Front)
