The questions are clear; it’s up to you to judge the answers. Candidates for the municipal elections in Nice responded to the invitation of Sian d’Aqui and its President, Fabrice Mauro, who, through a questionnaire, wanted to know each candidate’s stance on numerous aspects of life in Nice.
Fabrice Mauro explains why and how, Sian d’Aqui wanted to engage in the municipal process while maintaining the apolitism that characterizes this Nice association.
Nice Premium: Fabrice Mauro, why and how did Sian d’Aqui implement this questionnaire for the candidates in the Nice municipal election?
Fabrice Mauro: This project originated from the fear of many of our members who thought that traditions, culture, and the Niçoise identity would be absent from the municipal debates. Some of them urged us to create a list, others to join one candidate or another. Since Sian d’Aqui is completely apolitical, that was completely out of the question. We then had the idea to ask our members to pose their questions to the candidates through the association. This led to the creation of the questionnaire.
Nice Premium: Was it difficult to question all the candidates?
Fabrice Mauro: No, on the contrary, it was very easy. We made it a point to meet each candidate to explain the philosophy of the operation and the rules of the game. Each of them played along, granting us an interview. Personally, I have two satisfactions. The first is that Sian d’Aqui is truly perceived as an apolitical association, the second, that defending our identity is of significant importance to the candidates. They proved this by meeting with us and answering our members’ questions.
Nice Premium: Any anecdotes, good or bad moments?
Fabrice Mauro: Only good moments, fruitful exchanges, sometimes passionate but always constructive. Obviously, during the interviews, we felt that some candidates were more “concerned”, more involved, and more sincere than others, but obviously, I will not say which ones. Each candidate scrupulously respected the imposed word count. For the photos, we had asked each to provide us with a snapshot, which was a bit more laborious… but everyone participated. I should mention, since it has been remarked upon, that the list presented by the National Front does not appear in the responses solely due to production deadlines.
Nice Premium: Do you imagine repeating the experience between the two rounds?
Fabrice Mauro: Ah no, as far as we’re concerned, our information mission is accomplished. Our members wanted us to act as a relay between them and the candidates, and we’ve done that. Now it’s up to them to express themselves through voting. Since it’s said that the written word remains and spoken word flies away… the answers are written. Ultimately, by reading the responses from each candidate, I feel our identity is not about to be threatened. So, after March 16, should Sian d’Aqui continue its missions or cease activity? I’m joking, of course, because I also know that promises only bind those who listen to them… in a year or two, it might be delightful to publish once again in your columns the responses of the elected candidate. We only ask to see!
Sian d’Aqui’s questionnaires:
Click on a candidate to discover their responses:
– [Patrick Allemand](https://www.nicepremium.fr/article/patrick-allemand-repond-a-sian-d-aqui.2947.html) (Socialist Party-Greens-MRC)
– [Hervé Caël](https://www.nicepremium.fr/article/herve-cael-repond-a-sian-d-aqui.2948.html) (MoDem-PRG-MEI)
– [Bruno Della Sudda](https://www.nicepremium.fr/article/bruno-della-sudda-repond-a-sian-d-aqui.2949.html) (Alternatives)
– [Christian Estrosi](https://www.nicepremium.fr/article/christian-estrosi-repond-a-sian-d-aqui.2950.html) (UMP)
– [Patrick Mottard](https://www.nicepremium.fr/article/patrick-mottard-repond-a-sian-d-aqui.2951.html) (Socialist and Democrat)
– [Jacques Peyrat](https://www.nicepremium.fr/article/jacques-peyrat-repond-a-sian-d-aqui.2952.html) (Republican Agreement)
– [Philippe Vardon](https://www.nicepremium.fr/article/philippe-vardon-repond-a-sian-d-aqui.2953.html) (Identitarians)
