Adolphe Colrat, prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, presented the draft decree revising the cantonal map in the Alpes-Maritimes department, on which the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes was called to issue an advisory opinion.
The law of May 17, 2013, implements, in all departments, two fundamental democratic principles: the equality of suffrage, and the equal access of women and men to electoral mandates and elected positions. After the renewal in 2015, in Alpes-Maritimes, the departmental assembly will have 54 members for 27 cantons. Among them will be 27 women.
However, the department of Alpes-Maritimes is currently characterized by a significant population gap between cantons: Fewer than 1,500 inhabitants in the least populated, and more than 46,000 in the most populated, a ratio of 1 to 30. As for women, there are only 7 currently among the 52 general councilors, or 13.5% of the seats.
Thus, as the Prefect pointed out, “this is not merely a reshuffle. The composition of the new assembly will be very different after the next renewal from what it is today. Whatever opinion one may express about the new map, I am convinced that the two constitutional principles* that underpin the reform will achieve true republican consensus.”
Everything has been well said and clearly stated.
The design of any given canton can, of course, prompt objections or proposals, which must be assessed in light of the goals pursued. Other criticisms have already been expressed: “I have heard the criticisms regarding the potential impact on rural representation. Personally, I believe that considering rurality, in a balanced and fully supportive vision of territorial development, does not necessarily result from juxtaposing a large number of sparsely populated cantons. And a path has been laid by constructing inter-municipalities that sometimes stretch from the waves’ edge to mountain peaks. With a department of 27 cantons and 7 inter-municipalities, one of which is a metropolis as rural as it is urban, Alpes-Maritimes will soon have fully capable communities to consider the extraordinary diversity of the department and work cohesively, coherently, and effectively for its development. ”
The General Council of Alpes-Maritimes, strongly influenced by the personal interests of its current members, many of whom will find it difficult or impossible to regain their positions, issued an unfavorable opinion.
UMP and communist representatives, united in an unprecedented alliance, strongly criticized (as to be expected) the government’s project. Only the five socialist or allied representatives voted in favor of the future cantonal map. The male solidarity regarding the prospect of the arrival of numerous female councilors harmonized with the prevailing conservatism.
Furthermore, hateful words were spoken without restraint. The most astonishing came from Eric Ciotti: “I propose that we award the title of ‘Best Worker of France in electoral charcuterie’ to Jean-Marc Ayrault…” Some even found this expression amusing and laughed about it! No comment!
The final word goes to one of the 7 general councilors, Marie-Louise Gourdon, the new president of the Reformist Left group: “This project combines people and spaces and will allow for demographic equality in territorial representation in this assembly. This new division prepares the arrival of the 27 female departmental councilors and the 27 male departmental councilors.
Starting in March 2015, the departmental assembly will consist of as many women as men, fairly representing all the inhabitants of our department.”
