This morning, Christian Estrosi calls for a broad republican gathering and mobilization of abstainers to counter Éric Ciotti’s list, which came out on top in the first round. He extends a hand to Juliette Chesnel‑Le Roux and warns against Nice shifting to the far right.
The day after a first round marked by low turnout and an unprecedented balance of power, Christian Estrosi took the floor to call for a broad republican gathering. Finishing in second place with 37,214 votes, representing 30.92% of votes cast, the outgoing mayor will face off in the second round against Éric Ciotti’s list, which came out well ahead (52,274 votes, 43.43%). Behind them, Juliette Chesnel‑Le Roux (14,356 votes, 11.93%) and Mireille Damiano (10,767 votes, 8.95%) complete the picture with the bulk of left-wing votes totaling close to 21%.
“I am not changing course”: Christian Estrosi asserts his consistency in facing the far right
From the first minutes of his speech this morning on Avenue Jean-Médecin in front of the NICETOILE shopping center, Christian Estrosi wanted to recall his political line, which he presents as unchanging through several elections. The mayor cited his positions in the 2008 and 2014 municipal elections, then in the 2015 regional elections against Marion Maréchal‑Le Pen. “Where I have never failed to stand against the far right, I am not changing course,” he states, asserting continuity throughout his 2020‑2026 term, which he describes as “extremely open.”
He notably states that 95% of municipal resolutions were voted for by Juliette Chesnel‑Le Roux, today coming in third in the first round.
The outgoing mayor emphasizes the gap separating him from Éric Ciotti: 15,000 votes. A figure he considers recoverable provided he mobilizes voters who did not turn out this Sunday. “I am clearly calling on abstainers, who are extremely numerous, to mobilize,” he declares, before explicitly calling for a “republican front.” As a reminder, 122,750 voters out of the 229,111 registered in Nice went to the polls yesterday, leaving more than 106,000 votes to win.
Subsequently, the candidate for his reelection for a 4th term cites as an example his behavior during the last legislative elections, when he had asked his deputy Philippe Pradal to withdraw to block the National Rally in the 3rd district.
Extending a hand to Juliette Chesnel‑Le Roux: “I am open to discussing all these points”
Christian Estrosi confirms he met with Juliette Chesnel‑Le Roux this morning and invited her to in-depth discussions. He emphasizes the convergences he identifies between their programs: local democracy, annual referendum, housing policy, social policies.
He says he is ready to consider programmatic and even institutional agreements: “I proposed, for example, the presidency of the finance commission to a member of the opposition,” he recalls as mentioned during his campaign. Christian Estrosi also mentions his commitment to 10,000 housing units for the next term. According to him, “there is no reason we should not find agreements” allowing republican left to play a role in future governance.
The outgoing mayor dramatizes the stakes of the second round, estimating that “the biggest dangers hang over our city.” He accuses the National Rally of wanting to make Nice “a laboratory” and directly appeals to voters: “do the people of Nice want to be laboratory mice? I don’t think so.”
The mayor calls for a large gathering Thursday evening at Place Masséna, presented as a decisive moment before the second round.
A three-way race still possible
At this stage, the list of Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux is still in the running and wishes to continue the campaign: “ without ambiguity, we will stand to offer Nice a worthy alternative ,” she said last night following the first round. The outgoing mayor says he “cannot imagine” that the Unis pour Nice list leader could maintain her candidacy, believing she would then bear “the responsibility” for a possible shift of Nice to the far right. Discussions continue, while the prospect of a three-way race remains more relevant than ever.
Statements gathered by Théo Guitonny
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