Patrick Mottard considers Christian Estrosi’s result to be mediocre, that of Jacques Peyrat higher than expected. Most importantly, his opinion on Patrick Allemand’s score is scathing: “The left-wing parties remain stuck at a mere 22% and in third place. It’s a return to square one. It’s roughly the score Paul Cuturello had in 1995.”
As for his own score, Patrick Mottard considers it “honorable” but points out unfavorable factors: “There were certainly negative elements that either arose or were unexpected. The absence of a label is a handicap. Our absence in televised debates is a way of pre-announcing a three-way race. The national press ignored us. This is serious in terms of notoriety and credibility. Lastly, there is the notion of ‘tactical voting’. It doesn’t exist in a municipal election. If in a municipal election you do not take the freedom to choose the project of your choice, the women and men of your choice, then where will you take this freedom? On the ground, we were told we had the best ideas, the best program but people would vote tactically…”
The professor then speaks. With educational intent, he explains the reasons for not merging with Patrick Allemand: “In September, I said we would merge in the second round regardless of the result based on the will of the people of Nice. There, 22% chose to remain loyal to their parties, 7% joined Nice Autrement. It was a chance to experience a less gloomy second round than the one we’re going to see. We made this merger proposal unhesitatingly even though most of us had just been excluded from the socialist party and not spared. We extended our hand because we believed it to be in the interest of the people and ideas we were defending. We come from different backgrounds and thus merging meant creating a coalition list. It was also about creating a small event as happens everywhere in France. This extended hand was quickly and unequivocally refused. I believe the merger did not happen because it bothered the traditional party structures. Everyone had accepted defeat and positioned themselves for an opposition role, envisioning the positions they would hold. We denounce this party apparatus logic! The party apparatus preferred not to take risks… It’s a pity.”
Conclusion and importantly, the candidate from Nice Autrement gives no voting instruction for the second round: “By refusing the merger, they refused our program, our ideas, and that breath of fresh air we wanted to bring into Nice’s political life. Politically, it is therefore not possible to give voting instructions. From there, each of our voters, based on their own history and culture, will tackle the second round.”
