Overview

• Ciotti declared his candidacy for the March 2026 municipal elections, saying he wants to become mayor of Nice.
• Incumbent Christian Estrosi is already in the race, setting up a face‑off with his former protégé.
• Ciotti faults the city’s management, citing insecurity, more than one in five residents living in poverty, and municipal debt above €3 billion with higher taxes.
• He leads the Union des droites pour la République after breaking with Les Républicains and allying with the Rassemblement National, a bloc that won 16 legislative seats.
• He says his campaign will prioritize security and lighter taxes, as the local left trails and struggles to agree on a common approach.