The resignation of Patrick Allemand from his position as the federal secretary of the Socialist Party of Alpes-Maritimes has initiated a short but significant electoral campaign for his replacement.
Backed by the outgoing departmental majority, Xavier Garcia, the party’s spokesperson and the right-hand man of the resigning secretary, has announced his candidacy to succeed his mentor. However, as we well know, the party is, in fact, multiple parties in one!
Political lines, alliances, personal egos are the differences highlighted by national and local debates.
A collective leadership would have allowed waiting for national results to adjust at the local level accordingly. Ultimately, it will be an election.
And since this decision was made, it’s also out of the question to leave Xavier Garcia as the only candidate.
Jean-François Verdier, a former teacher and school principal, will be his opponent. A person of experience, he aims to be a point of balance and peace in this turbulent socialist world.
It is he whom the young David Nakache and Alain Delcasse, local representatives of the national currents opposing the social-democratic policy of François Hollande and Manuel Valls, have chosen for this internal electoral round to be held on December 3rd.
The very short time frame does not allow for serious debate, so the internal electoral campaign is likely to be more about logistical organization for canvassing votes than a genuine confrontation of ideas.
The thousand registered members of the PS 06 will be able to express their preference in the offices of the different cities and sections of the department. Beyond the result, it will be interesting to see how many of them will turn out.
The Socialist Party 06 is severely battered, and for various reasons as we have previously reported. Election after election, its capacity for mobilization and its motivation are waning. The party must be deeply renovated, just as its leadership should be renewed.
A different relationship must be established with the current electorate, and new forms of “associative marketing” need to be devised for effective engagement with citizens.
The real risk is that the party finds itself marginalized.
The elections for the departmental council will be the first test to verify the legitimacy and strength of the new leadership.
It is therefore not by chance that on December 3rd, at the same time as the election of the future head of the local PS, there will also be the election of candidates who will face the departmental electoral challenge.
