Éric Ciotti Gains Upper Hand Against Christian Estrosi in 2026 Nice Municipal Elections

The upcoming municipal elections in Nice, set for March 15 and 22, 2026, are shaping up to be a dramatic political battle between Éric Ciotti and incumbent mayor Christian Estrosi. A recent Elabe-Berger Levrault poll, conducted for Le Figaro, BFMTV, and Nice-Matin, indicates that Ciotti is positioned to unseat Estrosi, ending his long tenure as mayor since 2008.

According to the poll, Ciotti's list, supported by the UDR and the National Rally (RN), leads with 41% of the vote in the first round, while Estrosi's Horizons list trails with 30%. Left-wing candidates Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux, backed by the Socialist Party (PS) and the Communist Party (PC), and Mireille Damiano from La France Insoumise (LFI), are projected to qualify with 13% and 11% respectively. Smaller parties such as Reconquête! and Lutte ouvrière are expected to be eliminated, polling at 4% and 1%.

Bernard Sananès, president of Elabe, attributes Ciotti's lead to his strong local presence and a favorable national trend for RN in the Southeast region. The rivalry between Ciotti and Estrosi has escalated from a former mentorship to a fierce electoral confrontation. A recent anecdote exemplifying the tension was their silent encounter seated next to each other on a flight from Paris to Nice, underscoring the personal and political stakes involved.

Ciotti's campaign benefits from this momentum and the prevailing political currents, suggesting a potential shift in leadership for Nice after Estrosi's 18-year tenure. This election marks a significant turning point, illustrating broader trends in French local politics where center-right and far-right alliances are gaining ground.

As the election date approaches, all eyes in Nice remain on this intense duel, which encapsulates deep political divisions and changing voter sentiments within the city and the region.