Indeed, the significant number of elections in 2007 has postponed the municipal deadline by a year, but nonetheless, the contenders to succeed Jacques Peyrat are eagerly lining up at the gates of the Nice City Hall.
Rudy Salles, Jean-Auguste Icart, Jérôme Rivière, Gilbert Stellardo, and the current Minister of Territorial Planning, Christian Estrosi, are seen as favorites to represent a right-wing candidacy, while Patrick Mottard, Patrick Allemand, Jean-François Knecht, and Joseph Ciccolini appear best positioned to champion the cause of a left-wing that very nearly achieved a breakthrough in the last election, which ended with a mere 3,000 votes in their disfavor.
Since last Friday at the city council, Mr. Jacques Peyrat is officially a candidate for his own succession. “I will have no problem being reelected,” declared the Senator Mayor last month in L’Express. Despite the numerous scandals that have marred the management of his administration (large stadium, tramway, and recently the communications department), it remains to be seen whether the city’s first magistrate will attempt a third campaign under the endorsement of the UMP?
Let’s return to the so-called “right-wing” candidacies.
Faithful to their posts as they are to their habits, Rudy Salles and Jean-Auguste Icart will lead a list. The first, a UDF deputy who has been severely critical of Jacques Peyrat’s management, will definitely be present with his team, not ruling out leading a UDF-UMP list provided he is the leader. The second, a general councilor for over 10 years and the son of a former minister under Giscard d’Estaing (Fernand Icart), relies on his perfect knowledge of the city where he was born, and which he believes he knows in all its inner workings, to offer a “100% Niçois” candidacy.
Jérôme Rivière, deputy of the first district, the “young upstart” of the Nice political scene, does not hide his desire to be present at the next municipal elections, but for that, he would need the UMP to grant him the valuable nomination that would allow him to realize his dream. It remains to be seen who would earn his favor if his party chose another candidate?
As for Gilbert Stellardo, the former first deputy of the city ousted by Jacques Peyrat, does not hide his bitterness towards his former “boss” and would take real pleasure in outmaneuvering him in the next municipal election. The successful rescue plan for OGC Nice and his work within the city team could be valuable assets for a possible candidacy… unless he opts for a union with another candidate?
On the left, the two Patricks seem to hold the reins for the pluralistic candidacy, and it would be wise to guess whether Mottard or Allemand will be the candidate of the pluralistic left in the next municipal elections. Indeed, Patrick Mottard, a municipal and general councilor, achieved a memorable score in the last election, but Patrick Allemand, Vice-President of the regional council and federal secretary of the Alpes-Maritimes, is actively preparing ground that he would like to claim at the dawn of 2008.
In the shadow of this sunlit duel, a third man could well come into play; Jean-François Knecht, municipal and general councilor, is by far the staunchest opponent of the current mayor and could surprise everyone by being declared a candidate.
Other candidates may join the electoral adventure, such as Marie-France Stirbois (FN), Joseph Ciccolini (Various Left), Alain Roullier (Regionalist), or Franck de Vita (Various Right).
The game is far from over, and surprises might well emerge in what will be a very uncertain contest.
Franck Viano
First round results 2001
- Jacques PEYRAT (RPR) – 37.25%
- Patrick MOTTARD (Socialist Party) – 28.57%
- Marie-France STIRBOIS (National Front) – 11.98%
- Jacqueline MATHIEU-OBADIA (Various Right) – 8.02%
- Joseph CICCOLINI (Various Left) – 4.79%
- Jean ICART (Various Right) – 4.72%
- Xavier CAITUCOLI (MNR) – 3.02%
- Alain ROULLIER (Regionalist) – 1.64%
Second round results 2001
- Jacques PEYRAT (RPR) – 44.48% – reelected
- Patrick MOTTARD (Socialist Party) – 41.31%
- Marie-France STIRBOIS (National Front) – 14.20%
