He is young but already experienced.
This candidate (he was the president of a neighborhood committee) wants to turn his role as a challenger into an advantage to create a surprise at the polls.
« Remus adverso flumine » could be his motto, but he believes that with tenacity and willpower, one can navigate even against the currents, and most importantly, one can change voters’ convictions.
Nice Premium: Can you introduce yourself?
Jean-Christophe Picard: I am 39 years old. I am a territorial attaché and a graduate of the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis (DEUG and license in law, master’s in political science, and DESS in local government administration). I am the departmental president of the Parti Radical de Gauche (PRG) and the local representative of Anticor (a national association against corruption).
I am also highly involved in numerous environmental protection associations. This likely explains why my candidacy has received the support of the Independent Ecologist Alliance (AEI).
My substitute is Élodie Jomat. She was the candidate of the united left in the last legislative elections in the 3rd district of Alpes-Maritimes.
NP: What are your reasons for engaging in politics?
JCP: Simply because I am angry! Angry about the astonishing distribution of wealth. Angry about the contempt with which our living environment is being degraded. Angry about the greed that drives some to deliberately harm our health and that of our children. It is urgent to replace those responsible for this.
NP: What is your background and record?
JCP: This is the third time I am a candidate in the 8th canton, which I know by heart. I was notably the president of the Baumettes neighborhood committee for seven years.
I then continued to defend the interests of the residents by submitting detailed and argued contributions during every public consultation or inquiry, aided by my training in public law. For example, I submitted an argument to support a tramway project that would be beneficial to residents, meaning running through the city center, not along the Prom’ as the UMP mayor of Nice wanted.
NP: Why are you a candidate in this election?
JCP: Given the economic situation, it is urgent to have a useful general councilor. Today, in the 8th canton, the mandate of general councilor mainly benefits… the one who holds it!
We see all the drawbacks of having an elected official who is part of the majority, overloaded with mandates and functions (he is also deputy mayor and community councilor) and whose only obsession is not to displease his clan to keep his numerous allowances. However, to defend the citizens, you need an elected official who isn’t afraid to speak out!
Furthermore, the incumbent general councilor shows a rather haphazard grasp of his files. He caused panic in part of the canton by announcing that if Russia became the owner of the Russian church, it could claim ownership of almost the entire plateau of Piol! Of course, this was a completely fanciful claim. Another example: regarding the project for cell tower installation at 21 rue Caffarelli, he only explained to the anxious locals that the city could do nothing. That’s false: the city can act on the grounds of “abnormal neighborhood disturbance.” As for me, I will work on the files!
Finally, the incumbent general councilor regularly demonstrates lamentable sectarianism. The recent destabilization maneuvers that the previous president of the Parc Impérial neighborhood committee suffered remind us of this. To find favor in our official’s eyes, one must apparently belong to the UMP or, failing that, pledge allegiance to him. I want to be the elected representative of all the citizens of the canton. I will be open to working with all those of good intent, regardless of their affiliation.
NP: Could you share the main points of your program?
JCP: The project I will propose to the citizens will be based on four axes:
1) I set a prerequisite: political ethics. I will commit, for example, to holding only one mandate to be as available and effective as possible.
2) I propose a guarantee: citizen control. I will place my actions under the permanent scrutiny of the canton residents by regularly reporting to them and involving them in decisions.
3) I have a goal for the department: change the priorities. The general council must stop its flashy self-promotion politics and refocus its resources on social action, particularly on intergenerational solidarity.
4) I have an ambition for the 8th canton: living better together. That’s why I will work to build local community facilities rather than squander public money on grandiose projects.
NP: What is your vision of politics in general?
JCP: I am a humanist. For me, the Human is at the center of everything; he must take precedence over organizations.
Republican values – and particularly Secularism – guide my actions.
Elected officials have the responsibility to arbitrate between sometimes contradictory interests, with the general interest as their only compass. I denounce the tendency of some candidates to turn voters into “clients” by promising them small favors. In my view, an elected official must raise citizens up, not strip them of their dignity.
NP: …and in Nice in particular?
JC: Christian Estrosi decides everything by himself, sometimes even before the city council has had a chance to express itself. It’s a pity because he had some interesting personalities from the associative world on his list. Similarly, if the composition of neighborhood councils and the communal consultative council had not been rigged, we could have had useful participatory democracy tools.
Ultimately, the mayor is entrenched in showy politics, out of step with real issues. As a result, whenever a magazine publishes a ranking of cities in France (on management, social housing, accessibility, etc.), Nice is always at the bottom!
NP: What is your prediction for the outcome of this electoral competition?
JCP: It is feared that the FN, which is riding the wave of ambient disappointment without effort, will be in the second round. The question is: who will be facing them?
The right is divided in a canton that, sociologically speaking, is rather favorable to it. On the one hand, there’s the duly stamped UMP general councilor who is not known for being a workaholic and is more of a bystander. On the other hand, there’s a diverse right-wing candidate, without an endorsement, but very established, who knows the files well. A large part of right-wing voters could turn to him.
Given my establishment in the canton, the close ties I’ve forged with various individuals over time, and my program, which should appeal to both left-wing voters and ecologists, I can reasonably hope to surpass them!
One thing is certain: everything will be decided in the first round!
