According to David Nakache, following the first round of the regional elections, “the withdrawal of PS lists constitutes a major political mistake. It distorts the democratic choice of the second round and deprives citizens of leftist representatives to defend their interests in the Region.”
Being a candidate in an election means taking on the role of an elected official even in opposition, even in the shadows, case after case. Another renunciation.
It is, of course, understandable to choose not to directly and nominatively bear the responsibility of the FN gaining regional responsibilities. And this choice presents a real moral dilemma.
But this decision has at least two consequences:
Immediately, it deprives citizens, both voters and abstainers from the first round, of a possible republican vote in the second round since neither the National Front nor even “The Republicans” are truly republican. The democratic choice in the second round is therefore distorted. The role of a political party is to allow citizens to make a choice, whether they seize that opportunity or not. But we must never deprive them of it.
In the long term and during the five years of this mandate, there will be no left-wing representatives in the Regional Council to defend the interests of the inhabitants.
In Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, the PS thus decides either to leave Marion Maréchal Le Pen as the sole opponent to Christian Estrosi and the expected debt of the Region, or to let Christian Estrosi become the sole defender of minorities who will be mistreated under the frontist rule throughout the term.
There will be no elected official to file an article 40 and refer to the prosecutor in case of observed illegality or to denounce an irregular budget. There will be no one to act as a citizen watchdog and protect the associative world.
What might be read as a noble and courageous political sacrifice can also be perceived as a desertion: when one is a candidate to sit in a territorial community, one sits, whether in the majority or minority. One assumes the role of an elected official in the shadows and without photographers, to analyze budgets and projects, take positions and make counterproposals issue after issue.
In short, withdrawing one’s list in a self-sacrificial drama surely does not lack media flair but singularly lacks consistency and political courage.
by David Nakache
