NP: You have been campaigning for several weeks. What general analysis do you make of this campaign?
We have observed an extreme personalization that leads to the depoliticization of the debate. This is the opposite of our approach, which aims to be collective and focuses on the program.
Regarding our list’s campaign on the ground, we have received a warm welcome from the population, which expresses support for our approach and our values.
NP: What has been the most difficult? Putting together a list? Developing a program? Communicating? Financing?
We had no difficulty in forming a list and developing a program as we have been campaigning together with common values for a long time.
However, we do not have the material means of the other lists, and we all continue our professional activities concurrently.
NP: During this campaign, what has surprised, astonished, or shocked you?
We were shocked by the personalization and by the unequal treatment given to different lists by some media. The “big” lists already have considerable means and are further highlighted by the media.
NP: Let’s talk about your program. Several topics emerge from the campaign: Housing, Transport, the stadium, culture, and the development of the OIN.
What are your proposals for housing?
A decent home is a right!
Let’s start by applying the law: 20% social housing! Creation of land reserves, exercise of pre-emption rights, acquisitions, rehabilitations, requisitioning of slums and vacant institutional housing. Obligation of a social housing quota in every new construction program. More social housing throughout the city means lower rents for everyone! Transparency in the allocation and involvement of tenants in management.
Transportation and the tram in particular?
More public transport, free, efficient: tram line 1 up to Ariane, starting construction of line 2 from the port to Moulins.
Development of a network of cycling paths.
Free parking for residents.
The Stadium?
We favor renovating the Ray stadium rather than building a new one. The funds saved can then be invested in projects with greater social and ecological utility, such as the development of public services for young children, for example.
Culture?
Establishment of self-managed “social centers” that promote citizen and associative initiatives. For musical rehearsals and live shows: a venue per district! Free admission to all municipal museums.
No new city hall at Gare du Sud, but an associative, cultural, and sports project instead.
The development of the OIN?
Rejection of the undemocratic, dangerous (flood zone), and environmentally harmful National Interest Operation (OIN)! No massive urbanization of the Plaine du Var. Maintenance of the green belt, the lung of Nice.
Support for organic farming, protection of the water table, and biodiversity.
For a rational development of the Plaine du Var, we demand a debate involving the residents and concerned stakeholders.
NP: You, like most of the candidates, have targeted Christian Estrosi. Are we really in an “Anyone but Estrosi” scenario? And why?
We are not in an “anyone but Estrosi” mindset. From the start, we have targeted the right-wing policies that, at the city and department levels, are the same. However, we are concerned about the concentration of power that Estrosi’s election would entail, especially since he maintains close ties with Sarkozy and his ultra-liberal policy.
Moreover, we do not have the same proposals as the soft left and we refuse the personalization as they practice it.
NP: The city of Nice is not traditionally a stronghold of the far-left. Does the Niçois far-left need to be different from other far-left lists in France to hope to win votes?
The term “far-left” is a reductive label that does not take into account issues such as ecology, participative democracy, feminism, and the new practices associated with them.
The proposals of the radical left and alter-globalist, to which our list belongs, are the same everywhere because the hard right is the same everywhere, attacking social achievements, freedoms, and the environment in the same way.
NP: Although your list, and you have emphasized this point during the announcement of the candidacy, aims to be a collective, can we say that it exists in the media thanks to Bruno Della Sudda, city councilor, and the support of Olivier Besancenot who visited, and of José Bové?
It is mainly the media that highlight emblematic names. Bruno Della Sudda is indeed known for his work as a city councilor for seven years and also for his political, union, and associative commitment in the Ariane neighborhood, in particular. In the same way, each co-candidate is recognized for their work, their union, their association, and more broadly in their activist network.
Even though they are more present in the media, Bruno Della Sudda and the spokespersons for the list express what has been collectively developed.
NP: No offense, but there is very little chance that you will make it to the second round. Will you clearly call on your voters to vote for the left-wing candidate present on March 16?
In all circumstances, our values lead us to call to defeat the right and the far-right.
Unlike in presidential elections, there is no risk that the left will be absent in the second round. In these conditions, the useful vote on the left is the vote that allows citizens to express their desire for a more democratic, more ecological, and more supportive municipal policy. It’s the NICEA vote, 100% left-wing, 100% ecological.
NP: What score would be a disappointment for you and conversely a satisfaction?
Scoring is not our priority.
When you fight for your ideas, you’re never disappointed.
NP: Finally, a common question to all candidates: what message do you wish to send to the voters and internet users of Nice-Premium?
Another world is possible in Nice as well. Stop letting professional politicians monopolize power. Take charge of politics because it’s everyone’s business.
Voting NICEA is already a way to do politics differently and to show that there are people in Nice truly on the left.
