At 51 years old, the former prefect of Hauts-de-Seine will officially succeed Hugues Moutouh in two weeks. A change of style in a sensitive context.
Laurent Hottiaux will officially take office as prefect of Alpes-Maritimes on Monday, May 19. His appointment was confirmed by presidential decree on April 28, on the proposal of the Minister of the Interior and the Prime Minister. He succeeds Hugues Moutouh, who was recently appointed Secretary-General of the Ministry of the Interior.
Aged 51, Laurent Hottiaux has already held several high-responsibility positions within the administration. Notably, he served as prefect of Hauts-de-Seine for more than four years, from 2020 to 2024. “One could indeed say that I spent four and a half years managing crises,” he recently told Le Parisien.
Before that, he held positions in various ministerial cabinets, as an advisor, deputy director, and then chief of staff. In 2017, he became a security advisor to the President of the Republic.
Sensitive issues to address from the outset
The new prefect’s assumption of duties comes during a tense local climate. Several complex issues await him, notably concerning security and administrative management. Drug trafficking, judicial consequences of storms Alex and Aline, and political tensions ahead of the 2026 municipal elections will be among his priorities.
In this department, relations between the State and local authorities can sometimes be delicate. The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, sent him a welcome message on social media. A gesture reminiscent of the one extended to Hugues Moutouh upon his arrival, before their relations deteriorated.
Unlike his predecessor, Laurent Hottiaux has never been noted for his political stances. This more technocratic posture could change the way the State is represented locally. It remains to be seen how he will choose to make his voice heard in a region under migration and security pressure.
