Jean-Claude Wahid Spach-Kamel is advocating for a non-partisan candidacy, focused on citizen sovereignty and direct participation of residents. This new candidacy for the 2026 municipal elections claims to aim at putting the municipality at the service of the people of Nice, relying on collective intelligence and diversity of backgrounds.
“If you had one minute to convince someone, just one, it’s your turn.” This question, asked on the sidelines of the press conference, elicited a response that sums up the spirit of the initiative: “Believe in yourself. The first thing is that citizens should have enough confidence in themselves”, explains Jean-Claude Wahid Spach-Kamel, head of the Viable Eco-Citizen Alternative for Social Well-being, engaged in the race for Nice’s 2026 municipal elections.
Presented Thursday morning at the restaurant Le Rossetti, on Rossetti Square, he claims to be outside traditional parties and intends to propose a different approach to local politics, based on the direct participation of residents.
In contrast to a recent entry into politics, Jean-Claude Wahid Spach-Kamel emphasizes the continuity of his commitment. “I did not get involved today. I got involved in 2020, because it seemed essential to me to achieve a true democratic revolution”, he asserts, talking about a political system that is exhausted.
Citizen sovereignty as a priority
If he had to highlight one central measure, the candidate emphasizes reclaiming citizen power. “The flagship measure is to reclaim the sovereignty of the citizens”, he explains. According to him, this priority conditions all others: “only collective intelligence can determine what is good for the common good.”
In this logic, the list advocates for the establishment of citizen assemblies by neighborhood and mechanisms of direct decision-making, intended to structure municipal action throughout the term.
In response to what distinguishes him from other candidates, Jean-Claude Wahid Spach-Kamel mentions diversity as the guiding principle of his journey. “I think it’s diversity: cultural diversity, social diversity, diversity of my life experiences. I have worked in banking, restaurants, sales… I am a chameleon”, he summarizes.
A diversity of experiences that he presents as an asset to understand the multiple realities of the city.
Working for and WITH (Viable Eco-Citizen Alternative) the residents
Deeply rooted locally, the candidate claims to have grown up, worked, and lived in the Nice area for many years. His conception of municipal action aims to be radically reversed: “It is the residents who will tell us what we have to do. We will be their servants”, he insists, asserting a mandate posture based on listening and executing the citizen’s will.
With just over three months to the electoral deadline, he will still need to convince beyond his militant base. Aware of the stakes, the candidate concludes with caution: “Why trust us? That is the most difficult question. I would say first that citizens should trust themselves, and then that they observe my intentions.”
