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It’s in difficult times that one discovers the character of people, and undoubtedly, this is a challenging time for the Nice Socialist Party, which came out battered from the first round of the municipal elections.
From the national context to the lethal local controversies with the Left Front, following Patrick Allemand’s refusal to merge the two lists, there was a furious reaction from its leaders who called on their voters not to vote for the socialist list in the second round.
In short, there’s enough to rack one’s brain with the prospect of the National Front being the main opponent of the future mayor, Christian Estrosi, and the possibility of also ending up behind Olivier Bettati’s list, which, surviving elimination by a decimal, might take advantage to garner the votes of many dissatisfied people—from both the right and the left!
Patrick Allemand, flanked by the most representative of his running mates (EE-LV, Gauche Autrement, republican civil society), reacted firmly to accusations of having wanted to break the unity of the left, sending back their accusations to the senders.
“First of all, I would like to remind that it wasn’t me who did not want a united list in the first round as has always been the case, including in 2008. And then, it’s not my list’s fault if Robert Injey’s did not surpass the 10% threshold to remain in the race next Sunday.
The truth is that our offer of union was refused, that the Left Front’s campaign was more aggressive against government policy than against the outgoing mayor.
So, I am willing to be a man of compromise but I cannot accept just anything. We are excluded and pretend to be recovered by our list, we say we disagree, and we are accused of being union traitors of the left, while we had proposed it and those who accuse us today had refused back then. It’s a reasoning far from the truth and, in addition, lacks logic.”
Beyond the state of affairs and the reasoning that follows, remains the fact that, next Sunday, it will be the epilogue of the electoral season. So, what will be the electoral position of Allemand’s list and its weight in Nice’s political life in the coming years?
Patrick Allemand is aware: “I call for the mobilization of our militants and supporters. I hope that left-wing voters, who deserted the polling stations last Sunday, will find their way back to cast their ballots. I say left-wing because, beyond the controversies, our project expresses values and proposals in which left-wing people can find themselves.”
And to conclude: “My appeal is not for partisan purposes but I believe no citizen would want a city council dominated by a populist mayor and an extremist opposition. The political life and institutions would be wounded.”
In a little over 48 hours, the verdict of the voters will fall…
