As the city of Nice prepares to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the July 14, 2016 attack, the mayor’s decision to name the forecourt of the future Police Hotel “Nicolas Sarkozy” continues to spark controversy. Victims’ associations, gathered at City Hall, reject this idea and advocate for a tribute more connected to the memory of the 86 dead and the thousands injured on July 14, 2016.
On Thursday, the mayor of Nice met with victim associations from the July 14, 2016 attack. The meeting was held at the main city hall, as part of preparations for the tenth anniversary commemoration of the tragedy. Present were Patrick Prigent for Life for Nice, Hager Ben Aouissi for Une Voie des Enfants, Alain Dariste and Stéphane Erbs for Promenade des Anges, as well as Anne and Philippe Murris for Mémorial des Anges.
According to the municipality, these associations expressed a common stance: none of them want the forecourt of the future Police Hotel to be named “Esplanade du 14 juillet”. They believe that “the symbols linked to the Nice attacks are already there, strong, and deeply rooted.”
However, they have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the work of remembrance carried out with the city. This work is already embodied in the naming of several public places: rue Emmanuel-Grout, allée Borla, the Yanis Coviaux plaque, or the one dedicated to lawyer Myriam Bellazouz in the courthouse. The city and the associations have agreed that a space could be dedicated to each victim whose family requests it.
Beyond this consultation, another controversy has entered the public debate. Christian Estrosi’s decision to honor Nicolas Sarkozy by naming the forecourt of the future Police Hotel after him has sparked a wave of criticism.
A contested tribute and an alternative proposal
On September 29, Christian Estrosi announced on the network X that the forecourt of the future Police Hotel would bear the name Nicolas Sarkozy. According to him, it is to salute the former president’s “crucial action” “in favor of the security of the people of Nice” and his support for the project to merge the national and municipal police.
This announcement came a few days after Nicolas Sarkozy’s sentencing to five years in prison, two of them firm, in the case of the Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. The judgment referred to acts “of exceptional gravity.” This judicial decision has reignited the debate on the appropriateness of honoring a former head of state repeatedly condemned.
The association Tous citoyens ! reacted with a firm-toned statement: “No, Nice must not honor Nicolas Sarkozy!” The text refers to “a contempt for justice” and “a lack of respect for moral values.” The association also recalls that the City has already named streets or public spaces after convicted political figures, such as Charles Pasqua, Jacques Médecin, or Jacques Chirac.
For Tous citoyens !, “assigning the name Nicolas Sarkozy to the forecourt of the future central police station is akin to praising corruption.” The movement believes such a decision would “damage the image of Nice and the civic values to be taught to children.” A petition was quickly circulated. In less than twenty-four hours, it gathered over 800 signatures and now stands at 3,400 signatures.
In this context, families of victims proposed an alternative. Célia Viale and Thierry Vimal, both parents of July 14, 2016 attack victims, suggest naming the place “Esplanade du 14 juillet 2016.” Their text, widely shared on social media, presents a structured argument:
“Since, following the July 14, 2016 attack, the city and state services violently blamed each other for the tragedy (abundant archives testify to this), since the two parties eventually reconciled around the creation of a police hotel bringing together the national and municipal police under one roof, […] it would seem decent and respectful not to name the esplanade in front of the new Nice Police Hotel as Esplanade Nicolas Sarkozy, but rather ESPLANADE DU 14 JUILLET 2016.”
This proposal received support from several opposition elected officials. David Nakache, president of Tous citoyens ! and member of the civic movement Viva !, echoed it: “Célia Viale and Thierry Vimal, both families of July 14, 2016 attack victims, propose an alternative to the ‘Sarkozy square’ naming: ‘Esplanade du 14 juillet 2016.’ I share this proposal, just and very legitimate.”
For its supporters, it is a symbolic choice, directly related to collective memory. The future Police Hotel, intended to embody unity between the State and the City, would also become a place of reflection and recognition.
This debate goes beyond the simple naming of a forecourt. It relates to how Nice constructs its public memory and chooses the figures it honors.
