The outgoing socialist general councilor will represent the Rassemblement de la Gauche with Faouzia Maali as his substitute. His slogan “Faithful to the neighborhood” sets the tone for his election campaign focused on proximity.
So, the starting signal for an election campaign that promises to be difficult and complicated with competitors like former Mayor Jacques Peyrat (Entente Républicaine), the dynamic representative of local power Dominique Estrosi Sassone (UMP), and certainly a candidate from the FN who, let us not forget, obtained 27% of the votes in the first round of the last Regional consultation, increasing to 29.5% in the second round.
Paul Cuturello, who is the outgoing councilor of the 14th canton after two successes in 1998 and 2004, assumes his role as favorite and displays a calm confidence in his chances of achieving a hat-trick.
He relies on a general climate of revolt against government policy, echoed here in Nice by one of President Sarkozy’s loyalists, and on the weariness of a power system (the Estrosi-Ciotti duo, as he calls it) that is becoming increasingly stifling for democracy.
“We need to create spaces of resistance,” he tells us, “to preserve our freedoms against an increasingly threatening and personalized power that is the opposite of a normal democratic life.”
The coming years will be very difficult for a General Council that will lack financial resources to meet its institutional duties. The removal of the professional tax, replaced by state grants, will force us to make even greater budget cuts than those already implemented this year.
Associations have already seen a 20% reduction in subsidies, direct job creation will be at a rate of one for every two departures, funding for gyms will suffer, and the CG06 has already decided to withdraw reserve funds from colleges.
To further emphasize the seriousness of the situation, even the ticket for school meals has increased from 3 to 3.08 euros! Let us not forget that our department is the debt champion of France with 942 million euros!!! And we are at a ratio of 1 to 12 quarters of the repayment capacity.
The future will not be bright for more than one reason, and the Government will hinder the action of local authorities to prepare for the implementation of Territorial Collectivities, which is nothing but an attempt at revenge after the electoral defeat in the Regionals.”
Nice Premium: If elected, what will be your main areas of activity?
Paul Cuturello: First of all, ensuring that the requalification program of the Cité de Moulins follows a logical plan. We are talking about demolishing a building to rebuild another, but they begin to destroy before constructing. So, a relocation program will have to be implemented. Would it not have been preferable to do the reverse? We must ensure that everyone’s rights are respected during this transition period and that the situation is not exploited to carry out social cleansing!
NP: Your canton also includes the National Interest Operation area…
PC: …which for the moment is an empty shell. We’ve heard a lot of fascinating speeches about the installation of high-tech activities, but as of today, there has been no follow-through.
If the example is the Méridia district, unfortunately, we only see buildings, and I would not want the whole thing to ultimately be a huge real estate operation that cements the area.
Even the new stadium leaves us perplexed and doubtful about its costs, which seem exorbitant.
NP: What do you recommend?
PC: A harmonious and functional development with housing and social diversity, service activities, and the preservation of existing agriculture.
NP: A final word for your voters…
PC: I want to tell them that left-wing elected officials are not an anomaly but a reality that must truly… endure! If going on strike is costly because one loses their salary, voting is free and allows one to express their opposition to this policy that does not suit many French people. The rallied Left has the responsibility to prevent this drift of power; it must not retreat but must conquer and even reconquer positions.
