Already mayor of Nice and a central figure in the departmental council, Éric Ciotti expands his influence by becoming president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. An unsurprising election, marked by a speech focused on unity and budget management.
On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the metropolitan council gathered at the Mediterranean University Center of Nice and elected Éric Ciotti as president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. As the sole candidate for the position, the mayor of Nice received 108 votes out of 132 elected officials present, from a total of 133 councilors. There was only one absence, that of Christian Estrosi. Seven blank ballots were recorded.
The outcome of the vote was hardly in doubt. Éric Ciotti was the only candidate. The president of the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR) already had a solid base, consisting notably of 49 elected officials from his municipal list in Nice, with additional support from other municipalities. The election proceeded quickly, amid ironic comments from a spectator regarding the repetitive mention of the candidate’s name during the counting.
At 60, Éric Ciotti consolidates an already dominant position in the local political landscape. The municipal election on March 22, won with 48.54% of the votes, marked a turning point by ending several years of Christian Estrosi’s governance in Nice. The presidency of the Metropolis extends this dynamic.
A speech focused on unity and management
Upon the announcement of the results, Éric Ciotti addressed the elected officials from the 51 municipalities comprising the Metropolis. His tone emphasized unity and collective responsibility. “Coming together to work together” were his first words.
In a comprehensive address, the new president stated: “I wish to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your support, for expressing this vote. “ The new president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis highlighted the diversity of his team: “You represent here different sensitivities, different territories, different convictions […] This wealth forged from the sum of our bases has shaped, in a way, our character and our soul. And it compels us today, perhaps more than ever, to come together to work together. “
The speech also touched upon the institutional aspect of his role. “This election honors me and obliges me,” added Éric Ciotti, expressing a “genuine emotion” mixed with a “sense of gravity,” in facing several elements.
The first of these: the budgetary issue. The new president mentioned a debt that “will reach two and a half billion euros by 2026.” In response to this observation, several announcements were made. An independent audit is to be launched to establish a precise state of the accounts. A one-third reduction in executive compensation was also announced, with an aim to save five million euros over the term.
The speech stressed a line of conduct marked by “budgetary seriousness.” The “quarrels” and “prestige projects” were presented as things of the past. Implicit references to previous management punctuated the speech, particularly around controversial projects.
A new political organization in preparation
Beyond financial orientations, Éric Ciotti outlined the contours of future governance. The vice-presidential posts are expected to go to representatives of the five “main” municipalities in the Metropolis: Cagnes-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Vence, Carros, and La Trinité. This distribution was announced “with awareness of sometimes profound disagreements.”
During the campaign, two names were already put forward for specific roles: Pierre Ippolito for governance and Jean-Marc Governatori for territorial food autonomy. These choices reflect a willingness to open up to different political profiles.
Created in 2012, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis comprises 51 municipalities and around half a million inhabitants. The territory stretches from coastal areas to mountain resorts such as Isola 2000. This territorial diversity was mentioned as a structuring element of the forthcoming mandate.
Among the discussed orientations is also a revision of certain infrastructure projects. The tramway line project between Nice and Cagnes-sur-Mer will be abandoned in favor of high-level service bus lines, deemed less costly and quicker to implement. This cancellation has already been confirmed by the new RN mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer, Bryan Masson.
This election marks a new stage in local political reconfiguration. With the takeover of the Metropolis, Éric Ciotti now holds several major institutional levers. The announced departure of Christian Estrosi from Nice’s political life reinforces this shift in balance within a historically predominant group, now devoid of any decision-making power.
The start of the term therefore opens in a transition context. The first decisions expected will concern finances and internal organization. The relationships between different municipalities and political sensitivities will be another key issue in the coming months.
