A certain weariness, some cracks in the internal majority that has always supported him, and a few electoral defeats have overcome his steadfast spirit: Patrick Allemand turns the page and leaves the position of First Secretary of the Socialist Party of the Alpes-Maritimes Federation.
Naturally, he will keep his two electoral mandates, that of First Vice-President of the PACA Region and president of the Socialist and Green group (An Alternative for Nice) on the Nice City Council and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Council.
Very busy with his commitments in the Region, which often keep him away from Nice, Patrick Allemand struggled to adequately manage a party in decline.
The recent debates during the General Meetings also showed that unanimity within the party was no longer prevalent. As at the national level, and even if with less aggressiveness, the various voices of the internal “left” began to be heard.
After 14 years and two defeats as a candidate for mayor of Nice, the last one this past spring being quite brutal due to being overtaken by the National Front candidate, the voice of responsibility and wisdom advised him to voluntarily step down before being forced to by circumstances.
The upcoming elections, which promise to be difficult—the cantonal ones in March and the regional ones in December 2015—require a party in marching order and new faces that can inspire new hope in militants, sympathizers, and voters.
Patrick Allemand will remain a key leader in the socialist world of the Côte d’Azur, but the party needs someone who can fully dedicate themselves to its reorganization and bring new energy to relaunch it in a nationally challenging and sociologically unfavorable local context.
The party procedures call for nominations from Wednesday the 19th to Monday the 24th. The election of the new departmental secretary will take place on December 3rd.
Undoubtedly, Xavier Garcia, spokesperson for PS 06, will be a candidate. In recent weeks, he has steered the course of the party’s General Meetings. This close associate of Patrick Allemand, head of the Nice office of the PACA Region, represents the reformist wing.
One can imagine that the party’s left wing will not miss the opportunity to weigh in and matter. But, in this case, will there be a single candidacy, or will Arnaud Montebourg’s local representative, David Nakache, want to participate?
The upcoming days will tell us.
