After his victory on Sunday, March 22, Éric Ciotti was officially elected mayor of Nice this Friday, with 52 votes out of 57 voters. A clear majority that opens a new political chapter for the fifth largest city in France.
Gathered from 8:30 a.m. at Place Pierre-Gautier, running mates and journalists accompanied the new mayor to the town hall. “This is an important day; it is the honor of my life,” he declared during this walk.
The city council began with the roll call and a significant absentee: the former mayor Christian Estrosi. With the quorum reached, the session could begin, announced President Bernard Assou.
Then Bernard Chaix, deputy of Nice’s 3rd district, took the floor to announce Éric Ciotti’s candidacy for the mayor’s post.
Éric Ciotti Elected Mayor
At 9:30 a.m., the election is made official in the city council. A significant moment: Franck Terrier, hero of the July 14, 2016 attack, hands the tricolor sash to the new mayor.
In a speech lasting about 40 minutes, Éric Ciotti emphasized the significance of his mandate: “This trust honors me as much as it obliges me.” He also paid tribute to his predecessor: “The campaign was fierce, but it now belongs to the past.”
Among his first announcements, the mayor prioritizes security: “We are going to reclaim Nice, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood,” with an objective of doubling the municipal police force in 18 months.
On the social front, he promises to eliminate the 2024 property tax increase and launch a social housing renovation plan. He also announces the creation of 1,000 nursery places.
A Renewed Municipal Team
The new majority relies on 26 deputies, including six neighborhood deputies.
As the first deputy, Françoise Souliman is in charge of security, prevention, victim support, and communal heritage. Auguste Vérola, a loyal supporter of Éric Ciotti, becomes the second deputy, responsible for culture and civil status.
Among the other appointments:
- Gaëlle Frontoni for education and youth
- Pierre Ippolito for economic development and businesses
- Marie-France Césari for housing and urban planning
- Jean-Marc Governatori for the environment
The municipality also entrusts various delegations: Benoît Kandel for sports, Juliette Raffort-Lareyre for health and artificial intelligence, Zara Boutayeb for women’s rights, and Denis Del Rio for tourism and events.
Other deputies handle key sectors such as cleanliness, finances, human resources, or international relations, reflecting an expanded organization of the local executive.
An Opposition Already Combative
In the chamber, reactions quickly followed. Julien Picot denounces a political alliance: “On this dark day, we enter into resistance with a combative opposition.”
The former mayor of Nice, Philippe Pradal, is also critical: “Your victory was drawn by a particular configuration,” while also promising vigilance on Christian Estrosi’s record.
The List of Deputy Mayors
- First Deputy: Françoise Souliman, in charge of security, prevention, victim support, communal heritage
- Auguste Verola, 78 years old, for culture and civil status
- Gaëlle Frontoni for education and youth
- Pierre Ippolito for businesses, commerce, economic development, and higher education
- Marie-France Césari for housing and urban planning
- Laurent Merengone for historic Nice territory, traffic, and parking
- Céline Alunni for children and early childhood
- Jean-Marc Governatori for the environment and Rives du Paillon territory
- Valérie Sergi for city policy, social, and social cohesion
- Olivier Brueilly for finance
- Françoise Monnier for human resources
- Olivier Riquier for proximity and civil security
- Juliette Raffort-Lareyre for health and artificial intelligence
- Benoit Kandel for sports
- Catherine Moreau for green spaces and the upper Nice territory
- Sébastien Filipinni for disability
- Zara Boutayeb for women’s rights
- Patrick Le Donne for public markets, ethics, and deontology
- Valérie Bothy-Lanfranchi for Europe, international relations, and relations with Monaco
- Cédric Cirasa for cleanliness and street cleaning
- Bérengère de Charnacé for worship and private education
- Denis Del Rio for tourism and events
- Nathalie Kestemont-Gasperi for the Nice West territory
- Henry-Jean Servat for cinema and animal welfare
- Muriel Vitetti for Niçoises traditions
- Dario Lutchmayah for fighting discrimination, associations, overseas, and the Francophonie.
