The battle of the Patricks (Allemand and Mottard) continued. Patrick Allemand rejoiced in his PS-endorsed nomination with nearly 400 votes during the primaries where he was the sole candidate. Today, it’s Patrick Mottard’s turn to boast about rallying socialists around his dissident candidacy. Over 400 of them have finally decided to join the Mottard list by joining the support committee initiated by Marion Narran and Lucien Fouques.
The controversial page of the primary is turned. The Nice Socialist Party must now face the choice of 400 of its members who have opted to follow the candidacy of the one who was the PS candidate in the last municipal election. Patrick Mottard’s support committee has therefore filled up substantially in recent days under the impetus of Marion Narran, a young Nice member since 2006, and Lucien Fouques, a Nice member for over 20 years. The Mottard camp is pleased at its support and hopes that the coming weeks will also be fruitful both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Like its national counterpart, the Nice Socialist Party still doesn’t know which way to turn, and neither of the Patricks is more Saint Peter than Judas. 400 reasons to believe a little more on one side, 400 reasons to question on the other, the Nice left, which still does not know the identity of its UMP opponent, must build an identity for itself, in the run-up to the local deadline, which will serve as a large-scale primary.
In other parties, after Rudy Salles’ surprise candidacy, none of them have really positioned themselves except for the PC, the Greens, and the MRC, who have chosen to join the PS candidate, Patrick Allemand. The MoDem, the PRG, and the alternatives still haven’t clearly expressed themselves on this subject, undoubtedly wanting to analyze the progress of the two candidacies likely to see their ranks swell with their arrivals. In short, the game is far from over and according to the rules, the teams from each camp will try to convince the largest number of the usefulness and relevance of voting for a Patrick.
But which one? The voters of Nice have a few months to decide. In the meantime, the Allemand and Mottard clans will try to win them over. The lurking risk is that left-wing voters will grow tired of these political games and feel sidelined with their concerns overshadowed by the various candidates, a feeling that holds true for both the left and the right.
REACTIONS FROM THE SUPPORT COMMITTEE FOUNDERS
Nice Premium gives the floor to two “Mottardian” activists who explain the reasons behind their choice.
Marion NARRAN
young member of the PS since 2006
“The candidacy of Patrick MOTTARD is bold, and by bypassing the party machinery logic, it avoids the internal processes that harm our victory. It is especially constructive because it makes the candidate’s program and ambitions for his city available to all citizens within a socialist dynamic of gathering and reconciliation. In 2001, Patrick MOTTARD generated real hope for its residents. Since then, this momentum has not waned, and Patrick MOTTARD and his team have accomplished effective and undeniable work for Nice.”
Lucien FOUQUES
PS member for 20 years, head of the Nice-Centre section
“Patrick MOTTARD has always campaigned within the Socialist Party and embodies the left opposition. He has gained legitimacy that will allow the continuation of the winning momentum of 2001. By leading the list in 2001, Patrick MOTTARD almost won, missing by less than 3,700 votes. Since then, he has successfully and brilliantly led the Nice Plurielle opposition group in the municipal council, uniting Nice’s progressive forces. His track record is overwhelmingly positive. He will be the only one capable of making the left win in 2008.”
