It’s known that women’s involvement in politics often comes with some reservations. Moreover, when one is young and beautiful, these reservations can multiply… and turn into doubts.
What is this young and beautiful woman doing in the big leagues?
That’s the question we sometimes whisper… even if only somewhat.
But our meeting with Anne-Julie Clary, the young and determined socialist regional councilor, allowed us to recognize a hopeful figure in Azurean politics to whom the Latin expression “nil difficile volenti” could be applied, as she masterfully handles her topics and gives the impression that politics is, above all, a matter of personal duty for her.
Nice Premium: Can you describe your personal profile?
AJC: I am a regional councilor, elected in Michel Vauzelle’s team since 2004, delegated to sports and youth since the March 2010 elections. On a more personal note, I studied law before working in the social economy sector. I am 31 years old, born and living in Nice, with family origins from the hinterlands.
NP: What were the reasons behind your political involvement?
AJC: I first became involved against the far right, precisely at the time of the agreements between the right and the National Front in several regions in 1998. I had just gained the right to vote, and Jospin was Prime Minister. It was within the Socialist family that I found the republican model and political project that suited me, committed to social justice, equality, and solidarity, and in tune with the society as I perceived it.
Political involvement evolves daily and especially collectively, which is what makes it captivating.
NP: What are your thoughts on politics in general?
AJC: Politics should concern everyone, yet currently, it seems to serve only a few… It is disheartening to see the President of the Republic behaving like the leader of his party and camp and disregarding social forces in such a fundamental debate as that of pensions. It is unbearable to see banks and rating agencies dictating public power actions as they are now in Ireland… Citizens are exasperated, and justifiably so, by the turn of events.
All this is very far from my conception of politics and democracy. The reaction must be on par with the importance of the political time we are going through. It is paramount to restore credibility, meaning, and content to political action.
I sense that it is the awareness—and the demand as well—of socialists in the texts we are adopting now that will serve for the presidential project, on forms of wealth redistribution for new tools against globalization, on the renovation and exemplarity of political life, notably with the end of the accumulation of mandates, and on real equality with the idea that there can be no technical and economic progress without social and environmental progress.
In short, we need fairer politics, closer to citizens, with a societal project aimed at progress for all and by all.
NP: Can you tell us and explain the regional activity lines for youth and sports?
AJC: The region has chosen to intervene in sports even though the law does not require us to do so. We adopted a resolution in October reaffirming our commitment to leagues, regional committees, clubs, and athletes to further improve access to sports in our region.
We know that regional involvement is essential to maintain the development of accessible sports for all and across all territories while the government, for several years, has been choosing to cut back on funds allocated to sports, allowing the private sector to invade certain disciplines. We take the opposite view; it is precisely in a time of crisis that we must be present where the general interest needs us most. The region’s intervention helps thousands of young people practice sports, young athletes, several hundred events, and neighborhood sports facilities. A thousand sports educator jobs have been created thanks to the regional employment plan.
As for youth, it is the priority of Michel Vauzelle’s project. Young people are the most affected by the crisis. Rather than pointing them out as a threat, as is unfortunately too often the case, we want to carry another ambition for youth, to listen to and understand their projects and what they expect from society.
Several concrete measures will soon be deployed again to support the emancipation and autonomy of young people, with mechanisms in legal competencies, proactive policies, transport, health, food, housing, culture, sports, mobility, professional integration, technology, civic service…
NP: What are your thoughts on the situation in the City of Nice?
AJC: Nice should be observed regarding the evolution of other French, European, or Mediterranean cities. It is noted that public action has improved the quality of life for inhabitants: nurseries, services for the elderly, sports for all, playgrounds, cultural spaces, expression spaces for the youth… Nice is still far from all this and the people of Nice suffer from it daily. Studying in Nice, for example, is not quite the same as being a student in Montpellier or Barcelona…
This is also the testimony of associations echoing the social distress and difficulties many people face in making ends meet.
Nice has considerable natural assets, but the “showcase” is not all that matters as the municipality wants to make believe. Nice is a city that lives from within, and the people of Nice need attention to be paid to their well-being, quality of life, potential, and talent.
Anne-Julie Clary clearly prefers “passionate exploration” to “sad passion,” following the definition dear to Baruch Spinoza, whose concept of “desire” as a driving force in action is well known.
But in her courageous and measured reflection, one senses she is aware of the challenges in political life, and often reality, quoting Spinoza again, requires “reconfiguring our desires.” In short, she will continue to undertake and dare, all while knowing that “the path is steep” (Lao-Tze)
