Nice-Premium: On Sunday, voters in the 5th constituency of Alpes-Maritimes will vote to elect their deputy. You are the Socialist Party candidate. Can you give us an overview of this electoral campaign and the forces at play?
Paul Cuturello: On the left, I am the Socialist Party candidate supported by Michel Vauzelle, president of the region; Marie-Luz Niçaise Hernandez (Greens), city councilor; and André Aschieri, former parliamentarian. On the other hand, there’s a masked candidate since the UMP label is rarely used on electoral documents featuring Christian Estrosi. There is also a Communist candidate to whom I proposed a joint candidature. The Communists preferred to do as usual and present someone for the legislative elections, which is a pity. The context was more fitting for a joint candidacy during this partial legislative election since the votes do not add up nationally. We were united in Nice for the municipal elections; it would have been good to continue this way.
NP: The 5th constituency consists of 72 villages. How do you run an effective campaign with so many villages and differences between each of them?
PC: There is a geographical and physical challenge. The constituency extends from the seaside up to the top of Mercantour. Thus, it’s very diverse. The challenge is to organize true territorial solidarity between the coastal areas, and the mid- and highlands. It’s important that the villages in the mid- and highlands are not neglected in favor of the coastal areas and vice versa. With the project in Plaine du Var, we must avoid concentrating everything in that sector. The villages in the mid and highlands would become dormitories, leading to huge commutes between home and work. It would be beneficial for these villages if some business activities could be located there, reducing the daily back and forth.
NP: You are the PS candidate but especially the candidate against Christian Estrosi. How do you effectively oppose such a prominent candidate; the mayor of Nice, President of CG06, and Canca?
PC: You haven’t missed anything! He already holds several roles. After saying he would dedicate himself entirely to Nice, leaving Paris and the ministry, he now misses the capital and wants to return to Paris. Now he says that to be effective in Nice, he needs to be in Paris… It’s hard to understand.
The other aspect of this election is that Mr. Estrosi hides his affiliation with UMP even though he is the president of the UMP in Alpes-Maritimes and was very close to Nicolas Sarkozy. The President of the Republic is somewhat out of favor with the public. Christian Estrosi no longer claims allegiance to him.
The challenge is to mark your opposition after the 2007 presidential elections even if you voted for Nicolas Sarkozy. The situation was supposed to improve. It has deteriorated. I tell citizens: you have the opportunity to express their views and discontent and to cast a punitive vote against Nicolas Sarkozy, supported by Christian Estrosi. This election is therefore a chance.
NP: On Thursday, you received support and a visit from Benoit Hamon. Was this support strong enough to counter Christian Estrosi?
PC: Yes. He is a personal friend. He is part of the new generation of leaders in the Socialist Party. It’s a significant support in this campaign. It is also to show, while some conduct a “canton” campaign of micro-cantons and neighborhoods, that we will send someone to the National Assembly to legislate. Thus, it’s a real national support.
