With the holidays archived, politics resumes its place, and the senatorial elections will dominate the agenda in the coming weeks.
In fact, they are preceded by the various summer universities of traditional parties and one-person movements that clutter up the vast archipelago of the political world: the organizers’ problem is that these simple cliques have the common characteristic of interesting no one except the promoters and their entourage.
Thus, on September 27th, the French and residents of the French Riviera will elect 178 senators, five of whom will represent the Alpes-Maritimes. They will serve for six years.
Less well-known, these elections nonetheless allow for the election of senators. They are not directly elected by the French public but by a college of about 87,000 “grand electors,” via indirect universal suffrage.*
A right-wing stronghold, the Republicans have four out of five outgoing senators (socialist Marc Daunis, former mayor of Valbonne).
Having retained only two outgoing deputies (Dominique Estrosi-Sassone and former mayor of Mandelieu Henri Leroy), they are presenting relatively little-known figures (regional vice-president Philippe Tabarot, departmental councilor Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp, mayor of Gillette Patricia Demas), resulting from a territorial and political factional balancing act, and banking on a full house.
The results of the recent municipal elections support this forecast, but in this type of election, there is always a certain voting indiscipline; personal relationships and the local level can influence the outcome, albeit modestly (max 15/20%).
Opposing them is a “small” armada of a reunited left (PCF, PS, EE-LV), keenly negotiated by the leaders of the three parties, composed of new running mates: Alain Michelis (PCF), Mathilde Tessier (EE-LV), Fréderic Pellegrinetti (PS), Chantal Chasseriaud (PS), Didier Cherel (EE-LV).
What chance do they have to defy the odds? Honestly, they are almost nil, but this rapprochement among the traditional components of the left (excluding LFI) should be welcomed. It was high time for personal sensitivities to be set aside.
There is also the notice of an independent candidacy, that of the incumbent and supporter of Éric Ciotti, Anne Satonnet. Will she be unofficially supported by her mentor, or is it simply a bold initiative? We will only know after the ballots are counted.
It is now up to the candidates to tour the communes to meet the grand electors. Supported by the mayors (the department is almost entirely colored blue), the Republican candidates are greatly facilitated.
The professionalism of Senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone ensures the effectiveness of this action which has already begun with the official presentation of the list in Falicon in the presence of numerous mayors and deputies: “Our list, United for the Alpes-Maritimes, was pleased with these exchanges marked by respect, trust, and proximity built over the years,” declared Dominique Estrosi-Sassone.
