Nice Premium: Valérie Nucéra, how did the participatory debates unfold in our department?
Valérie Nucéra: Four major departmental debates were organized in the Alpes-Maritimes.
From these four “major” debates, we multiplied local debates across the territory to be closer to the citizens. Numerous initiatives were taken across the area, and debates were organized in the form of more convivial meetings, such as apartment meetings where supporters or activists invite their friends and neighbors to debate. We also had “Café Ségolène” and of course, the sections of the Socialist Party were mobilized for these debates.
The “Café Ségolène” concept works particularly well. The debate takes place in a bar, a restaurant, a pizzeria, with neighborhood residents being informed and invited. It’s a real success.
Thus, no less than about forty “decentralized” debates in the towns of the Alpes-Maritimes, or in the neighborhoods of Nice were held. Valdeblore, Eze, Grasse, Cannes, Antibes, La Trinité, Menton, Vallauris… and in Nice: Saint-Roch, Saint Sylvestre, La Californie, Bon Voyage, Old Nice, everywhere citizens can meet to debate.
What is particularly interesting is to give everyone a voice. Whether they are activists, supporters, or ordinary citizens, everyone can meet and exchange very freely.
NP: What were the themes discussed and what emerged from them?
VN: Four main themes were explored: “Environmental Excellence”, “Education, Training, Youth Pact, Job Access”, “Cost of Living, Purchasing Power, Small Pensions”, “Insecurities, Fighting All Forms of Violence”.
These four themes were the subject of the departmental debates. Following each departmental debate, these topics were able to be addressed more precisely in the decentralized debates.
For example, regarding “Cost of Living”, some chose to organize a more specific debate on housing. This theme of “life is expensive” was indeed the most frequently chosen for debates in our department…
NP: Regarding attendance, could you give us some details?
VN: These debates enjoyed unexpected success.
The first debate on the environment in Nice gathered 120 people, then 180 at Carros for Education. In Nice, again, more than 250 people came to participate in the debate on “cost of living” and finally for our last debate in Saint-Laurent du Var on “Insecurities”, there were about 170.
The local debates meet in a smaller committee, 50 people in Cannes recently, 40 in Mouans-Sartoux, 25 in Eze in a café… What is interesting in these more convivial meetings is that the word is more accessible, freer.
During the major debates, when you are 160 or 250 people, speech is somewhat “bridled”. The large number can intimidate some people who do not dare to speak up or who, if they do take the floor, do not really dare to express themselves in a truly spontaneous manner.
At 20 or 30 in a more convivial place, the atmosphere is more serene, there is less distance, and speaking up is facilitated.
Citizens then fully play their role of “expert citizen” as their experience is expertise.
