In this busy weekend of political news in Nice, the Socialist Party (PS) and the Radical Left Party (PRG) did not want to be left on the sidelines. In their own, more subdued way, they wanted to remind everyone that their political force also counts in the Nice and Côte d’Azur landscape.
The event proposed yesterday by the Socialist Party and the Radical Left Party—a buffet press conference—was meant to be “astonishing,” according to Patrick Allemand’s own words. Its last-minute scheduling was too. But for this plan to succeed, there was no choice: “it was the best way to explain that we exist,” added the first vice-president of the regional council. “You know the tactic. As soon as the PS federation or the region announces an event, the city hall will schedule something at the same time in quick succession.”
“Away from the bodybuilding contest taking place in town, to see who has the biggest muscles,” the PS and PRG gathered to emphasize their approach to engaging people from Nice and France in politics, especially through these open primaries scheduled for October 9 and 16. All the support factions for the primaries in the Alpes-Maritimes were present: supporters of Baylet, as well as those of Aubry, Royal, or Hollande, including those of Montebourg. Today, the only emblems on display are “proud to vote left,” without partisan color after a busy morning of leafleting. “There are indeed three political forces in this city. We want to avoid gaps and build loyalty among this leftist electorate.”
UMP and FN Hardly Opposable in Nice
The organization of Christian Estrosi’s counter-rally was the focus of the day and the main reason for this meeting with the press. “He wants to position himself as the last barrier against the FN by setting up this sort of circus. The UMP wants to make it seem like it’s between them and the FN, but that’s false. The presence of the PS here is real: 34% in the Nice municipal elections and 39% in the regionals.”
“The permeability between the FN and the right here isn’t new. Historically, it was on the electoral level; now it’s in their positions. Soon, the two parties will be indistinguishable.” The unfounded statements of Christian Estrosi regarding Tunisians arriving during the Jasmine Revolution, who had claimed that crime and rapes had increased, were mentioned. “If anyone embodies republican values here in Nice, it’s not the UMP,” according to Patrick Allemand.
“Since the cantonal elections where the FN was in the lead, the mayor would suddenly have become a social Gaullist. The UMP, however, is a machine for recycling FN elected officials: 8 of Estrosi’s list mates were with Peyrat.” Defeated in 1995 by the previous mayor, an ex-FN, Paul Cuturello speaks from experience.
Jean-Christophe Picard, president of the Radical Left Party, explains that if the FN is rising, it’s due to the disenchantment with Sarkozy and his “work more to earn more” policy. However, this seemingly protest vote could have “serious consequences,” as there is a real program behind it, which would represent an “economic suicide” if the FN were elected in 2012. And beware, “the extreme right has always implemented its program when in power.” Not sure if this last argument will deter those disenchanted with traditional parties from the National Front…
