Today, registered socialists will go to the polls to vote on the motion that will elect the first Secretary of their party next Thursday, October 18. Subsequently, during the congress that will be held in Toulouse from October 26 to 28, the governing bodies will be elected, and political orientations will be debated. Unsurprisingly, Motion 1 is expected to come out on top and lead to the election of Harlem Désir as the head of the Socialist Party the following Thursday, even though it is possible he may not be the only candidate.
It will be interesting to see the results of the other motions to better understand the balance of internal forces within what is often called the socialist nebulous.
This is at the national level. But here in the Nice region?
Following the Reims congress in the fall of 2008, which had left the Socialist Party split in two and disoriented militants, the Toulouse congress promises to be significantly calmer for the PS.
It must be said that, in the meantime, the Reims protagonists have reconciled, worked together to organize uncommon citizens’ primaries, and regained the Élysée. The exercise of power by the Socialist Party has never coincided with major doctrinal controversies.
Nonetheless, no fewer than five motions will be presented for the approval of the militants (only one less than four years ago). However, this time, the debates are much more subdued and marked by unanimous support for François Hollande and his government. The emphasis is on nuance rather than outright opposition.
Motion 1 includes all socialist ministers and the majority of parliamentarians, local elected officials, and federal executives. The Alpes-Maritimes are no exception to this trend. Led by departmental leader Patrick Allemand, the most prominent elected officials, including Marc Daunis, Paul Cuturello, Marc Concas, and Pascale Gérard, will rally. This motion advocates for a need for unity around the government, political coherence based on a strategy of recovery in social justice, and continued party renovation.
It is around this theme of renovation that Motion 2 has been constructed, with its departmental representative being Christian Garnier, secretary of the 9th canton section of Nice, calling for increased power for militants within a party dominated by elected officials due to recent electoral successes in municipal, cantonal, regional, and national elections. Motion 1 counters that the party has never done so much for renovation as in recent years, with gender parity, citizen primaries, and non-cumulation for parliamentarians nationally, and locally with the rise of a new generation of thirty-somethings around Xavier Garcia, spokesperson for PS 06, Yann Librati, Anne-Julie Clary, Emeric Lavitola, and Fouzia Ayoub.
Motion 3 represents the left wing of the party, who refused to join Motion 1 with Benoit Hamon and Henri Emmanuelli. This motion primarily advocates firm opposition to the European budget treaty and a more aggressive redistribution strategy by the government, notably on the minimum wage and capital taxation. Locally, it is represented by Roy Cusak, secretary of the Saint-Vallier section.
Motion 4 is the most enigmatic alliance. Nationally embodied by the moral endorsement of Stéphane Hessel, it gathers a number of former supporters of Ségolène Royal in the departments, although she is a signatory of Motion 1, leaving some to question the alignment, given Pierre Larrouturou and the Roosevelt 2012 collective’s economic project and 32-hour workweek stance do not align with the former presidential candidate’s position, who never showed great enthusiasm for the 35-hour workweek and reducing working hours. In the department, Véronique Lacoste, an unwavering “Ségoléniste” and secretary of the Roquefort les Pins section, is the representative.
Motion 5 entitled “Toulouse my congress” aligns with Motion 2, advocating for rejuvenation and more democracy and debate within the party. Composed largely of young militants, it remains fairly confidential. In several departments, including the Alpes-Maritimes, it lacks representation.
