For this election night, the MODEM party has taken over the “Les hussards bleus” restaurant on Rue de France. Around 8 PM, the mood is upbeat. Sandrine Julien, the youngest candidate and number ten on the “Rainbow” list led by Hervé Caël, is calm: “We can’t do worse than the polls predict, so whatever happens, we will be happy.” Martine Dubus, number two on the list shares the same sentiment: “I am confident given the previous results of the MODEM, the PRG, and the MEI. It can only yield a satisfying result. I am naturally optimistic, that’s why I prefer seeing the glass half full rather than half empty. A good result would be to reach beyond 10%, while a failure would be to get less than 3%. We don’t really believe in polls, we rely more on our field feedback, so it will go well. It’s mathematically impossible since each party alone scores more than 3%.”
At Jacques Peyrat’s office on Avenue Jean Médecin, confidence prevails even as the first estimates have not yet been released. Maurice Alberti, campaign director for the senator-mayor, recalls the actions taken by his team in recent weeks: “I am relaxed, we have a clean, republican camp. The mayor has presented his track record and his project which is a continuation of ‘Nice, an international metropolis.’ We await the results with confidence despite underhanded tactics. Whether we come in second or third, it would not be a failure. The election is decided on the evening of the second round with the transfer of votes.”
On Rue Saint François de Paul, at Christian Estrosi’s office, supporters and activists are gathered on the sidewalk in front of plasma screens, patiently waiting in front of France 3. The tension gradually mounts. The regional cut-off time approaches. Comments from “opponents” Paul Cuturello and Isabelle Delage are criticized. Some light booing rises in the air. Here, they don’t like it when their favorite is criticized. On set, Rudy Salles, co-candidate with Christian Estrosi, responds. He is applauded.
A few dozen minutes later: the first estimate on France3. “Christian Estrosi, below the result of the last polls, is closely followed by Patrick Allemand…” Silence. The disappointment is palpable. It’s hard to believe.
At twenty-one hours, the first estimates arrive. Christian Estrosi is credited with 35%, Patrick Allemand between 25 and 27%, while Jacques Peyrat has gathered 18% of the votes in Nice. Yet, the socialist side is not overexcited, as their leader specifies: “I call on all the people of Nice to go to the polls to send the UMP into opposition. The residents need us to take care of their daily needs without excesses. They’ve seen that I can do it and provide the answers they expect on housing, early childhood, seniors, and youth currently without prospects in Nice. Today, everyone who wants to win must stand behind me and vote for Patrick Allemand.” Finally, the only left-wing candidate in the second round came in third place but remains confident as his supporters applaud every good result of the PS broadcast on television.
On Rue Saint François de Paul, there is relief. Smiles return. Christian Estrosi arrives surrounded by a group of photographers. He will lock himself in an office and then come out to speak, applauded by the militants capturing this moment with their mobile phones.
Maurice Alberti is happy. The latest results are better than the first and place his top candidate in second place. Now, he wants to prepare for the second round calmly: “There will be a debate perhaps on Wednesday morning if the three candidates are present. As for a large meeting, it’s going to be difficult to prepare in three days since these events mainly attract the convinced, so we prefer street encounters. I am convinced that we are going to win and Mr. Peyrat will be the next mayor of Nice.”
The mood varies according to the offices and the results. One thing is certain, by Sunday night there will be only one happy among the eight candidates in the running in the first round. An election that you can follow on Nice-Premium.
