While Nicolas Sarkozy triggers hysteria in the streets of Nice, Patrick Allemand decides to hold a press conference to denounce the UMP’s intention to “crush the opposition.” Arriving alone and on foot, the Socialist candidate for the first district gathered journalists and supporters in a small group. Their styles are totally antagonistic. Éric Ciotti enjoys the support of the President of the Republic and indulges in a crowd bath at the port. Patrick Allemand finds himself somewhat neglected as he continues his campaign. The MJS (young socialists) distributed flyers in the neighborhoods this afternoon. It is precisely this distance between the two groups that Patrick Allemand criticizes.
“I am a survivor of the blue wave that submerged the Baie des Anges,” he acknowledges the situation. The path to victory is perilous, especially when facing an unfavorable runoff. Éric Ciotti won 44.5% of the votes in the first round. The socialist’s greatest fear is seeing a monochrome national assembly, “only deep blue.” Such a situation is “scandalous” to him; he continues, “the UMP wants to eradicate all opposition, which the left would not do.” He refers to Mitterrand in 1988 to support his argument.
Arithmetically, whether the right has the majority plus one or 500 deputies, it changes nothing. It is the psychological representation that shifts. 50 deputies in the opposition do not impress anyone; 200 or 300 can already calm the majority’s ardor more. Patrick Allemand counts on the abstainers from the first round to turn the tide. The task remains daunting. The candidate reassures himself by thinking that history is cyclical: “periods of grace generally last between 3 and 6 months.”
If he is not elected, Patrick Allemand will continue his work among the citizens. With the municipal elections in mind for spring 2008, he is taking bets. But he is not the only one thinking about it. Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit can be seen as preparing the ground in favor of the UMP. Confident in this regard, the socialist candidate keeps emphasizing, “national elections have nothing to do with local elections.” For him, the left is weakened, but it will rise from its ashes.
