The weekend was busy for the elected officials and socialist militants of Nice, who learned, either on Friday for the most informed, or on Saturday for the readers of Nice Matin, that Patrick Mottard was officially running for the Nice municipal election without going through the primary stage. Explaining that this choice will be made in front of the Nice electorate and not among the 2,000 members of the various local sections, Patrick Mottard thus proposes an alternative that few people expected, and it is a difficult choice that the elected officials and socialist militants have been confronted with since last Friday.
Reactions were quick to follow, with Patrick Allemand expressing his astonishment at this candidacy and asking his “comrade” to reconsider. However, the Vice President of the PACA region did not stop there, adding that “This attitude reflects a fear of a contradictory debate and a fear of the members’ vote. It is a lack of courage, a cop-out.” On the side of the Young Socialists Movement, surprise also prevails, with the same hope that the one who achieved the best socialist score in a municipal election in Nice will reconsider his decision.
From Nice Plurielle, the opposition group composed of left-wing elected officials from the last municipal election, Patrick Mottard has indeed resigned from his position as President of the group in order not to influence each person’s decisions. In this group, there is a portion mostly inclined towards Patrick Allemand (Paul Cuturello and Frédérique Grégoire) and a still undecided part except maybe Bruno Della Sudda, who, according to all logic, should remain loyal to his lead candidate. But, as Patrick Mottard mentioned during his press conference on Friday, the construction of his list will not be imposed by parties or by agreements favoring one or another.
This list, which should have a strong socialist tendency, will thus be in tune with the times of openness with a noticeable outreach to MoDem. Patrick Mottard, since the presidential elections, has always stated his support for collaboration with François Bayrou’s party.
The lineup for the upcoming municipal elections in Nice might turn out to be one of the most notable in France, with our two Patricks but also, perhaps, a Minister in the person of Christian Estrosi and Jacques Peyrat, an outgoing Mayor not wanting to step down anytime soon!
