Nice Premium: What is your analysis of the economic and social situation of the PACA region?
Gaston Franco: I think that the PACA region is in a difficult situation financially, in terms of employment, and more generally economically. This is also the problem of our country, Europe, and the world. I believe the region has not put in place the means to better withstand this, and that’s why we disagree with Mr. Vauzelle’s policy.
NP: Do you think national policy will influence voters’ decisions in the upcoming regional elections?
GF: I would hope not, because we mustn’t confuse elections. I believe that Nicolas Sarkozy still has two and a half years of presidency left. At that point, if he runs again, the French will have the opportunity to decide on his record and either sanction him if they feel it’s necessary or support him if they believe his record is positive.
In any case, these are regional elections today. I think it’s essential that people vote with full awareness of the regional stakes. We are hearing about phenomenal abstention rates, which would truly be an insult to democracy. It concerns our daily lives, today and tomorrow’s jobs. It’s about a region that needs to reposition itself among the main regions in Europe.
NP: What is your assessment of the Socialist Party’s record in PACA?
GF: I believe Mr. Vauzelle is a skillful man; he presents himself as a consensual person, which he is not. What I reproach him for most is his sectarianism. This means he refuses any external input. Christian Estrosi, when he was president of the General Council, gave the presidency of the tender commission of the General Council to a prominent figure of the Socialist Party. It’s the same at the Nice city hall. There are practices clearly in opposition that don’t let us hold a prominent responsibility in commission presidency. In our area, the elected representatives from the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region, of the tendency I represent, have never been associated with any decision whatsoever. The Socialist Party in the PACA region is a winner.
NP: What result do you hope to achieve in the regional elections?
GF: As high as possible.
NP: Meaning?
GF: We are not running just to testify. We are fighting to win. We observe that the famous “Olivier” alliance dear to Michel Vauzelle has collapsed. In fact, tonight’s debate clearly showed that there were very significant fundamental differences between the socialists and the ecologists. We have a program on which we are committed and with which we stand united. We have another ambition for the region. We take into account the actions of the president of the republic. To us, the region is not the last bastion against the president of the republic. On the contrary, there is a time for elections and a time for action. The day after the elections, we will get back to work to support the measures being taken in France, to stimulate employment, and to restart the economic engine. We want the region to be a partner in this action.
NP: How will you respond to the voters’ expectations?
GF: We commit to practicing proximity. I don’t pretend to say that we have immediate answers to everything. But we are committed to trying to find solutions as quickly as possible.
NP: Why do you think the French and the Azurians are not interested in the regional elections?
GF: I think we have never really invested on a national level to mobilize voters. This essential right, the right to vote, seems banal and normal today.
