At the start of the municipal campaign, it was imagined that he would join Patrick Allemand’s “Changez d’Ere” list, then alongside Patrick Mottard in “Nice Autrement,” but it is ultimately with Hervé Caël’s “Nice Arc-en-ciel” that Jean-Christophe Picard and the Radical Party of the Left of the Azure region have committed themselves for the upcoming Nice municipal elections.
We find Jean-Christophe Picard revisiting this new alliance which nevertheless created a surprise in the political milieu of Nice by proposing a new team in the grand prix of the municipal elections.
Interview with Jean-Christophe Picard
PRG Candidate on the “Nice arc-en-ciel” list (MoDem, PRG, and MEI) led by Hervé Caël
Nice Premium: Jean-Christophe Picard, why did the PRG ultimately ally with MoDem and MEI for these Nice municipal elections?
Jean-Christophe Picard: The PRG signed an ethical charter and a programmatic agreement with MoDem and MEI. From then on, the formation of a joint list became possible, even natural.
On a more personal level, we are all friends. And friendship is a notion to which the radicals on the left have always been very attached.
NP: You were announced with Patrick Allemand and then with Patrick Mottard. It will ultimately be alongside Hervé Caël. What made you decide to work with the official candidate of the Modem?
JCP: At MoDem, I had the pleasure of seeing—at last!—new faces. And there is a real desire there to dust off Politics. So, it is a real pleasure to work with such motivated activists and a lead candidate who is determined to make things move.
NP: How will the PRG and MoDem programs practically coexist?
I have no concerns about this question for the simple reason that… the program is already finalized! As I mentioned, we even started with that. We will soon take the time to present it in detail…
In any case, our desire to deeply renew political practices has met with a favorable response at MoDem. To the point that we launched our list by starting with presenting our ethical charter containing our ten commitments “to change political practices.”
NP: Can you explain the reasons behind the name of your list: Nice Arc-en-ciel?
JCP: Our list is composed of several colors of the rainbow: orange for MoDem, blue and yellow for PRG, and green for MEI.
Moreover, the rainbow is the symbol of renewal, of joy…
NP: Some big names at the starting line of the first round. Do you think there will be a second round, and who do you imagine in the final stretch?
JCP: We are presenting the “Nice arc-en-ciel” list so that the people of Nice can have a real choice. It will then be up to them to decide who will be present at a possible second round. I am deeply democratic, and I consider that it would be disrespectful to the citizens to announce, in advance, the result of an election that has not yet taken place.
NP: The cantonal elections will also be part of the electoral landscape in Nice. How will your new alliance handle this?
JCP: Personally, I hope that our agreement for the municipals will extend to the cantonal elections. Especially since I think that, in the rest of the department, there will be other “arc-en-ciel” lists in the municipal elections…
NP: Will you be running in a cantonal election yourself?
JCP: For now, the PRG is presenting two candidates in the cantonals in Nice: Alain Dutertry (deputy: Élodie Jomat), in the 13th canton, and Éric Jeuffrain, in the 9th canton.
NP: Finally, how will the days leading up to the first vote unfold for you?
JCP: We have chosen to do without a permanent office and to meet citizens where they live… We will therefore be very present on the ground.
Nevertheless, as is their habit, the radicals on the left have not waited for the elections to go talk to people or work with associations. We know that to restore trust between citizens and political leaders, it takes time. And when an election campaign starts, it’s already a bit late!
