National Rally Leads in Nice Amid Right-Wing Divisions Ahead of 2026 Municipal Runoff

In the 2026 municipal election in Nice, the right-wing National Rally (RN) candidate Éric Ciotti is emerging as a frontrunner, securing 43.43% of the vote in the first round, significantly ahead of incumbent mayor Christian Estrosi who received 30.92%. Ciotti, backed by RN leader Jordan Bardella, has called on right-wing voters to unite against Estrosi, urging citizens to free the city from what he terms Estrosi's "systemic grip." Bardella encouraged right-wing supporters to cast a "useful vote" for the RN, reflecting an intensified strategy to mobilize voters.

Estrosi, in turn, has warned of the city being "in danger" and exhorted voters to prevent the RN from taking control of Nice. This confrontation highlights a divided right-wing landscape in the city, with the RN growing its influence notably in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, particularly in urban centers such as Nice and Marseille.

Political analyst Jérôme Fourquet describes the Nice municipal election as a "laboratory of the evolution of the right," noting the RN's expanding presence in small to medium cities amid a weakening central political bloc. Nationally, the RN has doubled its number of mayors, though gains remain concentrated in specific regions and are not viewed as spectacular overall.

The runoff in Nice will be closely watched as it may signify broader shifts in French local politics, with the RN seeking to capitalize on regional footholds while traditional right-wing parties grapple with internal divisions.