Nice Premium: How are you approaching this legislative election in the first constituency?
Patrick Allemand: With calmness, determination, and confidence. Even though the UMP has an advantage, the outcome of no election is pre-written.
NP: What will be the PS candidate’s approach?
PA: It’s a platform of openness and gathering, true to what I’ve represented in left-wing politics since my involvement. The immediate confidence shown by PRG and MRC demonstrates this. The way we managed the inter-round period with other left-wing groups and trade unions also shows it.
But I am addressing everyone, including those who wish to use their votes on June 10 and 17 to balance out the May 6 vote and ensure that full powers are not granted to the UMP. It is necessary to prevent any drifts towards absolute power and therefore send as many Socialist deputies to the National Assembly as possible.
NP: Rivière (UMP), Ciotti (UMP), Cael (UDF Modem)… The competition will be tough this year. Your analysis?
PA: You’re also forgetting Jean-Marc Governatori and Charles Ehrmann with Danielle Lisbona. This is a crucial element of this election.
For me, the elements relative to the presidential election haven’t changed. I still have candidates to the far left, no more, no less, and I am the only Socialist candidate. On the right, among the UMP, there are four: Ciotti the parachuted candidate, Rivière the current deputy, Ehrmann the still active elder, and Governatori are vying for Sarkozy’s votes.
This demonstrates one thing: Ciotti has not managed his landing well. He is the candidate of the right’s division. It is exploding. This is evident on the ground with an unprecedented battle of tracts and posters. And it is a sign of catastrophic vote transfers among them.
NP: Philippe Vardon will run under the Identitarian banner. What do you think of this candidacy?
PA: I think nothing of it. Vardon addresses voters who have little in common with mine. If he is a problem, it’s more so for the FN.
NP: Who do you imagine will be in the second round?
PA: I don’t really believe in a three-way race. This time, the FN has a real candidate, but the political situation is not the same as in 2002. Rivière seems to be holding up much better than expected. The surprise might come from there. But today, nothing is certain for anyone. That’s why it’s essential for left-wing voters to mobilize. Let’s not create conditions for a local April 21 situation. The first round will be decisive for the left.
NP: Introduce us to your deputy candidate.
PA: He’s the best of deputies. Marc was elected in 2001. He is lucky to have a very easy to manage, very compact canton with two strong identities: old Nice and the Port. But opportunities still have to be seized. He has managed very well, and you will see that next year, he will confirm this by a brilliant reelection regardless of the political situation otherwise. The General Council is a local election.
NP: What will be your agenda in the coming days?
PA: A lot of groundwork, many meetings with the suddenly inspired community associations by the efforts of the General Council, which I’ve advised to make the most of, with parents of students, and aperitifs. Only direct contact can give this election a local dimension.
NP: If you are elected Deputy, will you still run for Mayor of Nice?
PA: Elected or not, I will be. And remember what I tell you today. Activists see the work I’m doing in a politically difficult period to energize, gather, open, resist.
NP: Finally, if you were to summarize your program in a few lines?
PA: This constituency has been held by the right for 21 years, and no problems have been solved.
My program can be summarized in a formula “The will to succeed together,” with strong benchmarks for the 1st constituency:
– Access to quality housing (fight against the rise in rents in the private rental market)
– Education for all (several schools in the 1st district are in Priority Education Zones)
– Equality in health care (fight against the establishment of €100 copays that the right wants to implement)
– The right to security (a real community police force)
– A controlled and shared immigration policy (co-development actions leveraging the communities of the 1st constituency)
