We are talking about Xavier Garcia, 35 years old, spokesperson for the Socialist Party of the Alpes-Maritimes and the closest collaborator of the ‘azure boss’ of the socialists, Patrick Allemand, Vice-President of the PACA Region and Departmental Secretary.
“Indeed, I first registered with the Labour Party and only when I returned to Nice after my studies did I join the Socialist Party.
This personal journey comes from my family origins, with my grandparents being political refugees who came from Catalonia during the Civil War of the ’30s. I am of modest social condition and grew up in the La Trinité and Pasteur neighborhoods. For 10 years, I have been with the Socialist Party, first as a simple activist, then integrating into the party’s organizational structure as a leader.”
Nice Premium: Give us your opinion on the general situation of Nice.
XG: Nice has been a city in decline for 20 years.
A city enclosed by a lack of railway connection (the TGV will only be completed in 2025), and to which even an airport of such great importance is not enough. Nice is a tourist city that has not been able to modify its offer in a market that is constantly changing with competition that, as everyone knows, has become globalized.
When you are a consumer economy, that’s where the essence lies.
But Nice still lives on outdated clichés.
A simple example among many others: do you think it’s easy to have dinner after midnight? or to find a grocery store open at night?
The Acropolis Convention Center is not of international standing (it is the size of that of Clermont-Ferrand!), so we are marginalized in business tourism, which, as everyone knows, is the most economically rewarding.
What socio-economic model is proposed by the Mayor?
A security-focused city! Very well, because no one is against security, although sometimes we legitimately wonder if it’s real security policy or its fictitious representation. But is it enough?
We hear about the National Interest Operation of the Var Plain, but for now, we don’t know much more. Will it be a real estate operation or a lever for economic growth?
There will be the Grand Stadium but I doubt that it will ever be an effective “tool” from an economic point of view.
NP: Finally, what do you reproach the Mayor and his policy for…
XG: In fact, his lack of substantial policy.
He does interior decoration with a strong penchant for self-satisfaction and a few too many concessions to bling-bling which, as we know, is the hallmark of his political house.
We can clearly see that he is using Nice to play an important role at the national level. All these comings and goings of Ministerial colleagues are useful for coloring the souvenir photo but do not bring much to Nice.
NP: You talked about the national role of Christian Estrosi? But the President of the General Council, Eric Ciotti, is also gaining power at the national UMP level, even within the restricted Sarkozy circle.
Couldn’t there be some traffic jam, even a potential rivalry between the two heavyweights of local politics?
XG: We know the relationship between Mr. Estrosi and Mr. Ciotti.
Now in politics, nothing is ever definitive. To this day, I see no sign of a fracture in the relationship between the two, but it is also obvious that Nice cannot have two leaders at the national level!
NP: Next spring there will be the cantonal elections, it will be an opportunity for the voters to concretely give their opinion through the vote.
XG: We know very well that the City and the Department are sociologically right-wing but we intend to maintain our positions, even improve them.
Our action aims to unite the opposition forces around credible candidates and for that, the Socialist Party is prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve the result.
In Nice, we hope to find an agreement with the dissident movement of Mr. and Mrs. Mottard, and Patrick Allemand is deeply involved in building this alliance despite what happened during the municipal elections of 2008.
The key battle will be in the 14th Canton, that of Les Moulins, where our outgoing councilor Paul Cuturello will have to face former Mayor Jacques Peyrat, who is playing the possibility of his return to municipal politics there, and especially Mrs. Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, whose resources can be imagined.
NP: We would like to discuss with you the topic of sports and cultural policies, which represent real interest for the inhabitants of Nice and can also be a potential asset for its image with significant economic benefits.
XG: Christian Estrosi’s sports and cultural policies are like the rest: no substantial work and expensive media stunts that do not benefit the city and its active forces.
Cultural associations and theater companies are literally abandoned by the city, and next to that, Mr. Estrosi gives 500,000 euros for a single play performed as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Nice attachment or even 140,000 euros for a David Guetta concert.
As for the “New Blood” project, everyone understood that it was only a way to lure Sophie Duez for yet another media stunt. For now, this project is empty, and it’s been 2 years that nothing has moved. Besides, just taking a look at the communal budget reveals that it is not funded.
For sports, it’s even worse with the Nice 2018 candidacy, which cost several million euros, with the success that is known. The taxpayer spent astronomical sums to promote this whim of the mayor.
In addition, neither small nor large clubs can manage their budgets, and local facilities are almost nonexistent. To play a football or basketball match, the young people of Nice have to climb a school gate like thieves, it’s still serious.
NP: One last personal question. How do you see your future in politics?
XG: Politics is my passion, but it requires a lot of investment and sacrifices, especially at the family level. That’s why I took time before accepting responsibilities. Now that I have them, I want to fully commit. I am part of the new generation that Patrick Allemand wishes to promote.
But if I had to become – or rather remain – a simple activist again, it would not be a drama for me.
