Towards an explosive duel Éric Ciotti-Christian Estrosi in the 2026 municipal elections

The municipal shots fired – A few months before the municipal elections. Consequently, zoom in on these elections which promise to be particularly disputed. Therefore, In Nice. Consequently, very close, before becoming rivals, Christian Estrosi and Éric Ciotti have a good chance of crossing the iron in the municipal elections of 2026. In addition, The culmination of a latent confrontation for years and for which the outgoing councilor leaves favorite.

Less than a year from the municipal elections. Similarly, scheduled for March 2026, the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, a candidate for his re -election, is already ready to go back to the approach.

To notice it, just look at this sequence captured by France 3 and broadcast Thursday July 3. Nevertheless, Present on a police boat in the harbor of Villefrance-sur-Mer. In addition, the councilor alpine a manager present on the pontoon of a giant towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian liner, indicating that he cannot be present on these waters, while the town hall wishes to limit the passages of these large polluters.

Estrosi wants to remain in control in his home – Towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian

“You are nobody here” (you are nobody here. Nevertheless, editor’s note), he rumbles in English at the address of his interlocutor. Furthermore, Too bad if the decree to this is ultimately suspended by justice. For example, the latter indicating that the metropolis, of which Christian Estrosi also has the presidency, is not competent in the matter.

Too bad, too, if some opponents mock this outing at sea. In addition, The sequence remains symbolically interesting: here the boss is him. Nevertheless, And he intends to stay.

The former French motorcycle champion did not wait long before heating up the tires. However, “I will be a candidate for my succession. In addition, ” he announced in Nice-Matin on April 12, 2024, promising towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian to “ensure that people live as best as possible, move as best as possible.”

The enemy brothers of the Côte d’Azur – Towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian

For him, this municipal race could have the smell of gasoline. Similarly, More than the previous ones. For example, Opposite, a certain Eric Ciotti, who had long hesitated in 2020, leaves little doubts about a possible candidacy. Furthermore, A candidacy. For example, which would surely be supported by the National Rally, even if the deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes did not officially declare itself.

The poster would have the appearance of final confrontation. Consequently, Because the two men have been engaged in a hidden war for years in Nice. Nevertheless, It has been a long time since their friendship is over.

This time when, from 1988, Éric Ciotti followed Christian Estrosi in his ascent, whether in the Parliament, at the General Council of Alpes-Maritimes, at the Ministry of Land Planning under Jacques Chirac … Similarly, before winning his stripes thanks towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian to his boss, becoming deputy, then president of the General Council of the Department.

Since 2010, the idyll has gradually turned into a personal confrontation against the backdrop of rivalry and differences in political lines.

On social networks. Éric Ciotti does not lose an opportunity to afford his rival on local subjects, accusing him in turn of pursuing an “anti-merchanting” policy or of having lost the “sense of priorities” by organizing “holidays at one million euros”. Strictering the outing at the sea of Christian Estrosi against the cruise ship. Éric Ciotti renames his opponent “Red Beard” and comments the sequence: “Acquiring before being sank”.

The mayor of Nice makes the blows. When Éric Ciotti joined forces with RN. Christian Estrosi compares him to “a little Pierre Laval” and does not fail to accuse him of “betrayal”. In early June on Europe1. at the mention of a possible candidacy of Eric Ciotti supported by towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian the RN, the philosopher councilor: “There must be one (…) and we will do with”. And to have fun with the spikes of his colleague against him: “He concentrates his time talking about me”.

Towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian

“Obviously Christian Estrosi can be dislodged”

It must be said that the good students of Sarkozysm with security. anti-immigration accents have never been so politically distant: one is today vice-president of horizons, the party of Édouard Philippe, when the other created his own shop, the UDR, last year after having made alliance with the extreme right of Marine Le Pen in the last legislative elections.

All conditions are met for their confrontation. With a question: will the ex-student get ahead of his ex-Ermo?

Yes, logically hope his supporters. “Obviously Christian Estrosi can be dislodged. If he has won. it is because there is a low mobilization rate and there is no strong candidate in towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian front of him with a solid program. There. I doubt that there is a lot of absenteeism if Éric Ciotti declares his candidacy,” wants to believe the Christelle of Intorn.

This argument is mainly valid for the previous ballot, where participation, in the midst of COVID-19 epidemic reached only 28.54% in the first round and 27.75% in the second. Otherwise, it was 53 and 60% in 2008 and 2014, during the first two victories of Christian Estrosi.

“We have always had a far -right candidate against us”

The latter’s supporters play serenity. “Eric Ciotti’s candidacy is not my subject. Anyway. we have always had a candidate from the far right in front of us and we have always beaten it,” said Hervé Cael, member of the municipal majority.

In 2008. Christian Estrosi had indeed won against Mayor Jacques Peyrat – a friend of Jean -Marie Le Pen who housed at the RPR towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian then at the UMP between 1998 and 2008 – and the PS represented by Patrick German, bringing together 41.33% of the votes in the second round, when his opponents greeted 25.50% and 33.17% of the votes respectively.

In 2014, Rebelote, with an even wider advance: 48.71%for Christian Estrosi, far ahead of the FN of Marie Christine Arnautu (21.10%), Patrick German still (17.84%) and the various right Olivier Bettati (12.42%).

In 2020, the outgoing mayor made his best score: 59.30% of the votes in his favor in the second round, 21.30% for Philippe Vardon, who then represented the RN, 19.30% for the list of environmentalists led by Jean-Marc Governatori and Juliette Chesnel.

Victory of the CIOTTISTES in the legislative elections

Everyone has their numbers. The ciotists necessarily appreciated the most recent. Those of the anticipated legislative elections. They are final: UDR victory in the three Nice districts. Éric Ciotti has kept his. ditto towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian for Christelle d’Intorni and Bernard Chaix won one, tearing her out from the hands of Christian Estrosi’s candidate, Philippe Pradal. Which, like the two other candidates of the mayor, could not do better than a third place.

What weaken Christian Estrosi. according to his opponents, who then denounced his resignation from the metropolis in July 2024, followed by his re -election and a reorganization of the executive … without the relatives of Eric Ciotti.

“He made his little dissolution to have the light on him. sanction those who were not by his side and reward those who supported him,” Cingle Christelle of Intorni.

Opposite, Hervé Caël calls to distinguish the 2024 election from the battle that will follow. “I am convinced that a municipal election and a legislative election, it is quite different. We must re -situate the previous legislative election in its protest context. Apart from Eric Ciotti, it cannot be said towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian that the other candidates had an exceptional notoriety. They were elected on a label,” said the municipal councilor.

The left wants to break the duel

The fact remains that the ciotists are not the only ones to. observe with appetite the results of the legislative elections. The left. too, sees promising signs, while the candidates of the Alliance of the New Popular Front finished second in the three Nice districts.

If she has never managed to take the reins of the town hall under the Fifth Republic. she hopes to play a card and take advantage of the Ciotti-Estrosi confrontation. “I do not think there will be a duel but rather three different blocks in the second round”. predicts Jean-Christophe Picard, who is one of the three elected environmentalists on the municipal council, ensuring: “The classification will not necessarily be the one we expect.”

To do this, it will be necessary to towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian avoid the scenario of 2020. When the environmentalists had left for their part. as well as the socialists, as well as the communists and rebellious who had supported the citizen collective “Viva!”. Only the first cities had qualified for the second round.

This time, socialists, environmentalists and communists want to make common front. But. for the moment, they have not chosen their head of the list, nor succeeded in convincing the rebels with which they regularly hold meetings.

“We are not obsessed with the rebellious. ” says Jean-Christophe Picard, who opens the door to two distinct lists, admitting that there will always be “people who are not agree” on the left.

Estrosi plays the action card

Whatever the candidates on the starting line. the attacking angles already seem to be found among the opponents of Christian Estrosi. Left as UDR depict an elected official centered on his communication rather than on the towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian Niçois.

They also evoke “the state of finances” of the city. while the mayor had increased the property tax in 2024, justifying this decision by the need to maintain a high level of investments and public services.

In return. Hervé Caël evokes an “excellent assessment” which is verified “in the field”, according to him, while reproaching his opponents, and more particularly to Eric Ciotti, for “being in systematic opposition”, without formulating “proposals”. The latter “is against all projects but try to put yourself on all the inauguration photos”, he creaks.

Classic for the Niçois, accustomed to this salad. For the moment, the time is still a certain calm, before things get carried away. The next municipal elections? “I don’t think about it for a second. I don’t have time,” said Christian Estrosi on BFM Côte d’Azur on February 6, 2025, trying to place itself above the fray. A classic of outgoing elected officials, towards explosive duel éric ciotti-christian candidates for their re -election. However, all end up entering the arena again.