This time, it’s off to a good start! With the presentation of the reformist left alliance list, which adds to the existing, although partial, lists of Marie-Christine Arnautu and Jacques Peyrat, the electoral campaign enters its active phase.
For the Left Front, the upcoming Friday meeting, with the presence of their leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, should be the occasion to reveal their plans, even though the top three candidates representing the Communist Party, the Left Front, and the Alternatis are already known.
The forces in competition are starting to take shape. Still absent are Christian Estrosi (who, being the incumbent, has the advantage of forcing the other competitors to hasten if they wish to catch up with him!) and Olivier Bettati, both engaged in a game of chess, whose final choices will not be easy, with the risk of pleasing some and displeasing others.
But let’s return to the socialist meeting held in front of a well-filled assembly, albeit far from the “estrosian” phalanxes at Nikaïa and its well-orchestrated evening show (only the Nice eagle, faithful to its origins, did not follow the agenda assigned to it).
“It is true that,” commented Patrick Allemand, not without irony, “in this case, the funds were from the taxpayer’s purse, as everyone could see, an official manifestation and not an electoral propaganda event. Besides, it’s well known that Christian Estrosi said nothing; the images did the talking for him.”
A first observation concerning the composition of the running mates accompanying the socialist leader in this campaign: The list comprises only half of socialist leaders and activists, while the other half consists of candidates from other organizations and political perspectives, including 12 from civil society.
“I wanted an open, republican list, representing every district of the city as well as every profession. I count 42, far from the classic clichés of a mix between civil servants and association leaders.”
A list that does not present surprising novelties: Among the top ten, apart from the Greens renewing their delegation with new entries, we find the same individuals, except for the jurist Françoise Assus Jutner with her first candidacy and the internal promotion of the lively Mélanie Russo, head of the MJS and likely the future youngest member of the Municipal Council.
However, a note rings false with the placement in the 27th and 35th positions of the two 2.0 running mates, turning them into “virtual” candidates with little chance of becoming real elected officials.
Now let us turn to the wishes of the socialist candidate: “What I wish for is that together we become the wind of hope, the wind of true change. It’s a project constructed with the people of Nice, for the people of Nice, with association leaders, with business owners, with all the vibrant forces of the city.”
It will unfold in 4 main themes:
1st Theme: United and Citizen Nice
It is essential that every Niçois, regardless of origin, skin color, creed, or condition, finds their place in the city.
It is essential that secularism is reaffirmed as the glue of our republican principles.
It is essential that the right to security for all is no longer a slogan but becomes a reality.
It is essential that the governance pact changes the relationship between the elected officials and the municipal administration, between the elected officials and the neighborhood councils, between the elected officials and the Niçois.
2nd Theme: Sustainable and Friendly Nice
It is essential to construct a real public transport development plan whose backbone will be the tramway network because we need to streamline the East-West axis with a surface-level line 2.
If elected, I will cancel, within the days following March 30, all Nice markets related to the underground section of line 2.
We will also extend line 1 towards Trinité by unblocking l’Ariane and construct a line 3 to Saint Isidore.
It is essential to fight against pollution. We will reduce household waste incineration.
It is essential to combat noise pollution by establishing the principle that every Niçois has the right to noise-reducing pavement, regardless of the neighborhood they live in.
3rd Theme – Just and Supportive Nice
It is essential to be supportive of the youth. A “youth” pact will be presented in a few days. It will include measures in housing, health, transport, and employment. It will also recall the city’s commitment, after March 30, in the future employment device.
It is essential to address the housing crisis. We will launch a housing pact and create a fluidity shock in this city that will allow us to mobilize all means to create accessible housing for all.
We will change life in the neighborhoods with precise, concrete, immediately applicable proposals to improve living together in social housing.
It is essential to restore National Education as a priority of the city by re-establishing decent educational conditions wherever necessary.
We will implement the educational rhythms reform by proposing a project for extracurricular activities. We will build the school of tomorrow together by developing the use of ICT from an early age.
4th Theme: Creative and Stimulating Nice
We will make culture a real factor of personal, economic, and social development. We will make Nice a hub of cultural creation.
We will build a real 20-year economic development strategy by indicating which sectors we will prioritize in collaboration with the University and with the OIN, whose name we will change. We will give Nice an economic identity.
We will make the Social and Solidarity Economy, very delayed in our city, a strong axis of job creation. We will promote our SMEs.
And Patrick Allemand concluded: “In 2008, I heard the outgoing official of the time say, ‘I took care of Nice for two terms, now I will take care of the Niçois.’
In 2014, I hear the outgoing say, ‘I took care of Nice during the first term, now I will take care of the Niçois.’
Conclusion: It’s been 19 years since the right has not taken care of the Niçois. Well, I say to you, I will take care of the Niçois from my first term.”
Now, it is up to the voters to decide if they have been well heard.
