Following revelations published by Nice-Matin about an alleged parallel scheme during the municipal election campaign in Nice, Éric Ciotti announces his intention to join the judicial investigation as a civil party. The deputy believes this approach will shed full light on the facts, while Christian Estrosi firmly contests the accusations.
Éric Ciotti wishes to join the judicial investigation opened around the so-called “pig’s head” affair. The announcement comes on the evening of revelations published by Nice-Matin about how the 2026 municipal election campaign in Nice unfolded.
The mayor of Nice has tasked his lawyer, Maître Franck de Vita, with formalizing this step with the investigating magistrates.
According to information published by Nice-Matin, several people under examination in the case describe the existence of a parallel scheme to Christian Estrosi’s official campaign. According to their statements, an unofficial team would have managed accounts on social media, created pages presented as support pages, and distributed content hostile to Éric Ciotti. A budget of 50,000 euros was reportedly also allocated to promoting these posts on the Meta platform.
The daily newspaper also reports that one of the protagonists claims that a request was made to manufacture, using artificial intelligence, fake videos as well as a fake recording featuring Éric Ciotti, Cyril Hanouna and Vincent Bolloré. The same witness claims that a two-million-euro public contract with the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis was promised to two members of this team in the event of Christian Estrosi’s victory.
In his statement, Éric Ciotti clarifies that he is not drawing conclusions based solely on information published in the press. However, the deputy believes that if these facts were confirmed by the judicial investigation, direct harm would have been suffered.
“During this campaign, Éric Ciotti was the target of attacks of unprecedented violence. He discovers, along with the people of Nice, that some of these may have been designed, financed and orchestrated for the purpose of harming him and distorting the election.“
The statement adds that joining as a civil party should allow the investigating judges to verify the factual basis of the claims, to confront different versions, to identify the source of funding and to determine any responsibilities.
Éric Ciotti concludes by stating that “the people of Nice have the right to know if their vote was manipulated” and reiterates his confidence in the work of the justice system.
An investigation opened since the municipal campaign
The affair dates back to February 27, 2026, during the Nice municipal election campaign. A pig’s head had been discovered hung on the gate of Christian Estrosi’s home. A photograph of the elected official accompanied by an insult and a Star of David had also been found there. The mayor then denounced an “abject” act and filed a complaint.
A judicial investigation was opened a few days later for several offences, notably “public incitement to hatred or violence on grounds of religion”, “aggravated violence targeting a public official”, “fraudulent access to an automated personal data processing system” and “criminal association for the purpose of committing offences.”
At a press conference held on March 12 at the height of a municipal campaign marked by an avalanche of non-political scandals, Christian Estrosi had stated that he wanted to “know the truth” and rejected any involvement in a possible staging. The mayor had presented himself as “the victim of an absolutely vile conspiracy” and indicated that he no longer wished to speak publicly about the matter until the investigation’s conclusions.
At that time, investigators were progressively ruling out the possibility of foreign interference. Investigations were turning towards an operation that could have been carried out within the mayor’s political circle, without any element then allowing the establishment of involvement or knowledge of the facts by Christian Estrosi.
Christian Estrosi denies and announces a complaint
In its investigation, Nice-Matin also reports statements from a certain Amine S., under examination in this case. The cyber-activist claims to have advanced the advertising expenses on Meta with his bank card and claims that a two-million-euro public contract was promised to him and to one of his associates in the event of Christian Estrosi’s victory.
Through their lawyers Olivier Baratelli and Gérard Baudoux, Christian Estrosi firmly contests these claims. The lawyers recall that the former mayor of Nice filed a complaint after the events and then joined as a civil party as soon as the investigating judges were appointed.
The defence emphasizes that the judicial investigation is still ongoing and states that Christian Estrosi wishes full light to be shed on this matter. The lawyers describe the reported statements as “accusations as incongruous as they are scandalous” and announce the filing of a complaint for defamation under Article 226-10 of the Criminal Code.
The lawyers finally recall that their client considers himself a victim in this matter and states that he trusts the investigating magistrates to establish any responsibilities.
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