After Christian Estrosi’s announcement to name the forecourt of the future Police Headquarters after Nicolas Sarkozy, opposition is organizing. Families of victims of the July 14, 2016 attack, supported by civic associations, propose an alternative: “Esplanade of July 14, 2016.” A choice they deem more just and respectful of Nice’s history.
On September 29, Christian Estrosi surprised many by announcing on social media platform X that the forecourt of the future Police Headquarters in Nice would bear the name of Nicolas Sarkozy. The mayor explained his wish to pay tribute to the “decisive action” of the former president “in favor of the safety of the people of Nice.” He also highlighted his support for the project of combining national and municipal police in the same building.
However, this decision came in a tense judicial context. Four days earlier, Nicolas Sarkozy had been sentenced to five years in prison, two of which were without parole, in the case of Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. The court described the offense as “of exceptional gravity.” This conviction, the third in recent years, rekindled the debate on the appropriateness of honoring a former head of state who has been repeatedly penalized by the judicial system.
Quickly, voices were raised to denounce a choice deemed inappropriate. The association Tous citoyens!, already critical of the mayor’s memorial policy, issued an unambiguous statement: “No, Nice must not honor Nicolas Sarkozy!” The text criticized “a disdain for justice” and “a lack of respect for moral values.” The association recalled that Christian Estrosi had already named streets or public places after convicted political figures, like Charles Pasqua, Jacques Médecin, or Jacques Chirac.
Tous citoyens! believes that “assigning Nicolas Sarkozy’s name to the forecourt of the future central police station amounts to praising corruption.” They see it as a “violation of the image of Nice and the civic sense to be taught to children.” Following this, a petition was launched. It has gathered so far more than 3,400 signatures.
Victims’ families propose an alternative
In this climate of opposition, a proposal emerged. Célia Viale and Thierry Vimal, both parents of victims of the July 14, 2016 attack, published a statement calling to rename the future forecourt “Esplanade of July 14, 2016.” Their declaration is clear:
“Since the day after the attack on July 14, 2016, city services and State services have violently blamed each other for the tragedy (there are abundant archives in this sense),
Since both parties seem to have finally reconciled around the creation of a police station that will bring together national and municipal police under one roof,
Since glorifying Nicolas Sarkozy at the time of his conviction would, on the contrary, represent a new rupture between local power and the national Institution,
Since the July 14, 2016 and October 29, 2020 attacks have made Nice one of the French cities most affected by terrorism,
and Mr. Sarkozy was convicted in the first instance for, among other things, sending envoys in 2005 to negotiate with the Libyan sponsor of the DC-10 UTA attack, which claimed the lives of 170 people, including 54 French citizens,
Since, therefore, honoring Mr. Sarkozy in Nice will be perceived as violence by the vast majority of families of terrorism victims, whether from Nice or not,
And since, finally, 2026 will mark the tenth anniversary of the July 14, 2016 tragedy, which caused 86 deaths, hundreds of physical injuries, and thousands of psychological injuries,
it would seem decent and respectful not to name the esplanade in front of the new Police Headquarters of Nice Esplanade Nicolas Sarkozy, but rather ESPLANADE OF JULY 14, 2016.”
This proposal, praised by several opposition politicians, aims to embed the memory of the attack at the heart of a symbolic place for public safety. David Nakache, president of the association Tous citoyens!, member of the civic rally Viva! and the list Nice Front Populaire, expressed his support:
“Célia Viale and Thierry Vimal, both families of victims of the July 14, 2016 attack, propose an alternative to the name ‘Sarkozy forecourt’: ‘Esplanade of July 14, 2016.’ I share this proposal, which is just and oh so legitimate.”
For its signatories, it is not just a political disagreement but a matter of memory. The future Police Headquarters, which will bring together law enforcement in one place, is seen as a symbol of unity between the city and the State. Naming its forecourt after the convicted former president would, they believe, be contradictory to this idea of reconciliation.
An in-depth debate on memory and probity
The proposal of “Esplanade of July 14, 2016” would directly refer to the memory of the victims. For its defenders, it would embody a form of coherence and respect towards those who have been affected by terrorism.
For his part, Christian Estrosi has not publicly responded to this new proposal. He remains committed to the idea of a tribute to Nicolas Sarkozy. The mayor recently confirmed that the future Police Headquarters, whose delivery has been delayed to October 2026 due to technical and budgetary delays, would be inaugurated at that date.
He stated his intention to organize “open house days to introduce the premises to the people of Nice.” Until then, the debate on the naming of the forecourt may well continue to enliven local political life.
