While passing through Nice for a support rally for the IBM workers from the La Gaude site, threatened with relocation, the national politician expressed his confidence in the outcome of the upcoming cantonal elections. He answered questions from Nice-Premium.
Nice Premium: Are you approaching these upcoming cantonal elections with some confidence or certain confidence?
Manuel Valls: I am certain that voters will support the political action of the Socialist Party, which is leading a clear and unambiguous opposition to an increasingly incoherent and clumsy presidential and parliamentary majority (see the recent behaviors of some leaders).
The difference between words and results is seen as too significant to escape a sanction vote. Let’s not forget, the socialists are the “party” of local communities, and their management is generally positive because it focuses on social life and proximity with citizens. We leave the bling-bling and boasting to our opponents.
NP: Do you think these results, even if they are positive, could influence national politics?
MV: I don’t think so; the electoral campaign for the Presidential election has already started. The right has chosen its candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy. Future decisions and actions will be based on this event. This is already evident with the manipulation of increasingly populist recurring themes.
There is no pedagogy, only the need to appear capable of reacting to events. But where was the preventive action, which positively characterizes a policy?
The next President of the Republic will be the socialist candidate or…? Nicolas Sarkozy’s challenge is to be the other “finalist” and avoid being eliminated in the first round by Marine Le Pen, hence his obsession with not being outflanked by the FN.
NP: And the PS candidate?
M.V: There is a procedure that includes a schedule, and currently, we have “possible” candidates. I have declared my candidacy, but my position is not definitively fixed. Will DSK also be a candidate or not? If not, I will go up to the primary voters’ ballot, and if yes, it will require me to reconsider because I share many of his positions.
It is good to remember that the number one objective is for a socialist to become President of the Republic in 2012. This is necessary for the PS after three right-wing terms, but more importantly, it is indispensable for France if we want to get the country back on track.
NP: Will the result have an influence within the Socialist Party?
M.V: No, frankly, Martine Aubry is at the helm of the party, but she won’t benefit from the result in her potential run in the primaries. That said, it is indisputable that her position as PS secretary will be strengthened.
NP: Do you fear the FN or abstention more?
M.V: Unfortunately, the fact that these elections are not coupled with others means that a large part of the electorate will not go to the polls.
Forecasts indicate a right-wing electorate ready to revert to a protest position and in favor of the opposition party to the right of the presidential majority.
The PS has managed to gather the different left-wing political sensitivities, and these alliances should bear fruit. However, it is true that many voters no longer identify with this political class and express it by not voting.
It is up to us to change their minds with a local election campaign, listening to these citizens and becoming the spokesperson for their demands.
This is the role of a modern and popular left!
