During a press conference at the Aston Hotel on Thursday, February 12, Christian Estrosi presented the list he will lead for the municipal elections next March. The incumbent mayor emphasized the renewal of profiles and a governance method focused on citizen participation.
A few weeks ahead of the 2026 municipal election, Christian Estrosi, the incumbent mayor of Nice and candidate for re-election, officially unveiled his list of candidates during a press conference organized at the Aston Hotel. This event was described as a major campaign moment, blending an overview of the past mandate, team renewal, and announcements on future governance.
In his speech, the candidate described the moment as “complicated and exciting”, highlighting the need to make choices among outgoing elected officials and the numerous applications received. “Some decide to stop on their own, others who would like to continue cannot”, he explained, recalling the commitment of officials from the 2020-2026 mandate.
Christian Estrosi highlighted the mandate’s performance, claiming 171 out of 184 commitments made in 2020 are met or about to be met. He connected this record to a challenging context, notably marked by the health crisis.
A list combining outgoing officials and new profiles
The list presented by the incumbent mayor is characterized by a significant renewal, with over 50% new faces, according to the candidate. At the top, Christian Estrosi is in the first position, followed by Carine Dalmasso, a Nice winegrower and former president of the Vignerons de Bellet, in second position, and Anthony Borré, first deputy mayor, in third position. Senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone is also among the top positions on the list.
Among the highlighted profiles is Léonilde Lopes Tavares, ranked 40th, the only running mate from the citizen questionnaire launched by the campaign team. Born in Cape Verde and arriving in Nice during her teens, she was selected through a process based on the quality of her responses.
“This team owes its presence on our list only to its skills, work, and merits”, emphasized Christian Estrosi, highlighting a list composed of representatives from all socio-professional categories and all neighborhoods of Nice.
“The people of Nice decide,” a central axis of the project
Beyond presenting his running mates, the candidate extensively elaborated on his vision for the next mandate, centered around a new governance model summed up in three words: “the people of Nice decide”. Learning from the past mandate, which he noted was marked by Covid and evolving citizen expectations, he announced his intention to “lead the city differently”.
The proposed measures include establishing an annual referendum day, allowing residents to ask questions at municipal councils, implementing citizen consultation clauses in public contracts, and publishing an annual audit of the city’s finances.
Christian Estrosi emphasized proximity and territorial representation: “All neighborhoods of Nice are represented, with attention given to each generation”. He also highlighted the presence of young people in the team, noting that nearly 15% of the running mates are under 40.
A charter to frame the actions of elected officials
All candidates signed a “All for Nice” elected officials’ charter containing ten commitments, which includes holding regular office hours, participating in municipal bodies, ensuring the transparency of delegation indicators, and following up on citizen requests with a one-month response time.
Finally, Christian Estrosi rejected any polemics surrounding the composition of his list. “I wanted to be a unifier, above the fray”, he stated, indicating his intention to focus his campaign on the project and its content from now on.
