Ségolène Royal, do you believe you benefit from Nicolas Sarkozy’s unpopularity?
In any case, I observe the warmth of the reception everywhere I go, especially here in Nice. Something is happening with Patrick Allemand’s list because you can really feel that people are fed up with the current system and it’s time for them to stand up and say things must change.
Nicolas Sarkozy has decided to speak directly to the First President of the Court of Cassation to bypass the censorship of the Constitutional Council. Is this a strategy?
I will not comment on this topic. I only discuss issues that concern us on a daily basis. But, it seems that there is indeed a kind of strategy involved. It consists of making daily announcements on topics that touch on Nicolas Sarkozy’s former area of expertise to create a diversion. I, however, do not want to create diversions: the thousands of people I meet talk to me about their serious issues with living costs, rising fuel prices, rising food costs… Many elderly people are only eating one meal a day and are desperately waiting for Nicolas Sarkozy to fulfill his promise to increase small pensions by 25%. We are seeing a downward pressure on wages and an increase in job insecurity. A great anger is rising. We expect, from a head of state who made so many promises and claimed to be the “President of purchasing power,” to start working seriously and keep his commitments to make life less harsh.
“Casualness, improvisation, disorder”
From what you say, is Nicolas Sarkozy not up to the job?
I simply believe that we expect politics to be effective and carried out by serious people. And since that is not the case today, it at least needs to become the case in all cities and county councils. We can at least cushion the shocks of all the destruction at the national level: tax increases, medical copayments, the decline in purchasing power and wages in companies, the continuing offshoring, and a government that remains idle. Local authorities, by working hand in hand, must take over. The regions are on the left, the cities and departments must also become left-leaning to stand united and pull in the same direction. Acting strongly at the local level at least means stopping the wastage of public funds and promoting social action and employment.
Christian Estrosi, Secretary of State for Overseas, is asking for a restriction of right of the soil, at least in Mayotte. Are you concerned?
What concerns me most is that Christian Estrosi, a member of the government, does nothing for the purchasing power. When you are in charge, you deal with the real problems. This government is not serious, engaged in casualness, improvisation, haphazard announcements, and disorder. Faced with such disorder at the highest level of the state and so many dysfunctions in the institutions, it is essential that the municipalities and departments have serious elected officials who get to work and ensure the country moves forward. Nicolas Sarkozy is dragging France down.
Do you plan to go to Cannes to support the list of Apolline Crapiz and your former mother-in-law Nicole Hollande?
It’s not planned at the moment.
What do you think about her entering politics at 80 years old?
I have no comment to make.
“Nice will finally achieve financial transparency and public morality”
You were talking earlier about changing things. How to change Nice?
It’s simple: the city needs to be freed from being under the control of cronyism and all the abuses that have made headlines and tarnished its image for years. This can be achieved by entrusting responsibilities to serious people like Patrick Allemand, whose commitment, professionalism, and honesty I know personally and who, as Vice President of the PACA Region, understands the city’s problems and has been dedicated to them for a long time.
Don’t you think it’s a lost cause?
I believe that, in the secrecy of the ballot box, people will mark what they hold dearest: the truthfulness of the word given and the serious teams who get to work. I have known Patrick Allemand for a very long time; he represents what people are asking for. France needs officials who manage public money correctly.
For you, is he the best left-wing candidate here?
He is the only left-wing candidate here. He represents a new era: finally, Nice will achieve financial transparency, public morality, and the effectiveness of daily action.
Patrick’s list is very inclusive! The civil society makes up 25% of the list. He has gathered the left-wing forces, and fortunately, he has also broadened it. Each city has a specific setup, and it’s important to respect the identities. Patrick Allemand respected that of Nice by building his list based on the active forces he could gather around his project. Everything else, including the agreements with the Modem, is not relevant right now. Today, it’s the voters who will come to the polls, based on projects, and Patrick Allemand’s, which takes into account the fundamental values of the Republic and humanism, deserves the trust of the people of Nice. He prioritizes taking care of people over filling his pockets, unlike too many people in Nice for years. And everyone knows that.
