Situated in the French political landscape to the right of the Socialist Party, yet remaining a left-wing party, the MRC must strategize to make itself known to voters. This party is the successor of the Citizens’ Movement, created by Jean-Pierre Chevènement when he left the ranks of the PS. Today, the MRC has only one deputy and two senators within its ranks. In the department of Alpes-Maritimes, known for its right-leaning tendencies, this party represents just over 1% of the electorate. With the upcoming municipal elections in 2008, the tactic of rallying together on a united left-wing list has prevailed. Thus, in Nice, Grasse, Cagnes-sur-Mer, and La Trinité, the MRC has joined forces with the left-wing union, including the PS, PCF, and Greens. “We have chosen this option for months. But we only present candidates in towns with a real activist presence,” adds Ladislas Polski. He is himself in third position on the list in La Trinité.
For the moment, the MRC of the Alpes-Maritimes has only one elected official within its ranks: Patricia Izner, municipal councilor in Grasse. In 2008, the party is raising its objectives, even though Patricia Izner does not wish to run again. “We hope to have at least 5 elected MRC officials in different town halls of the department,” assures Ladislas Polski. In Nice, Frédéric Blanc, Cédric Matthews, and Sébastien Pillet join the Changer d’air list of Patrick Allemand (PS). “Our place on the list will be announced on Sunday, but we can already tell you that our position should allow us to sit on the city council,” declares Frédéric Blanc.
Countering the right-wing hegemony
Ladislas Polski sets ambitious goals for the MRC: “We also want to participate in the rebuilding of the left, on republican and social bases. The right considers the Alpes-Maritimes as a large political cake from which it only has to share the slices, which would be the elected seats. There is no reason for it to always be hegemonic.” To project an innovative image, the MRC proposes candidates who are not career politicians—they are doctors, teachers, or computer scientists—and who are young—in their thirties. This contrasts with the heavyweights of the local political scene, whether on the right or the left.
“For Nice, we want to act on social diversity, education. And of course, prioritize housing policy,” as Patrick Allemand does in his program. But the MRC also advocates its values, for example, the sovereignty of the people. Strongly opposed to rejecting a referendum on the next European treaty, MRC activists are calling for a day of action on February 2nd. A “citizen vote” on the opportunity to let deputies decide for France will be organized. Moreover, MRC candidates know they will be closely watched on the issue of security, tackled head-on by Patrick Allemand and the PS. For from 1997 to 2000, two years before the presidential campaign revolved around this theme, the Interior Minister was none other than Jean-Pierre Chevènement.
