The administrative court of Nice cancelled, this Friday October 9, the election of Pierre Ippolito, fourth deputy mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti. The Maralpin entrepreneur was the subject of two appeals contesting his eligibility due to his links with companies holding public contracts. The decision can still be appealed to the State Council.
The administrative court of Nice handed down its decision after the hearing on Tuesday, October 6. The judges pronounced the annulment of the election of Pierre Ippolito, elected on the list led by Éric Ciotti during the municipal elections of March 2026.
Two appeals had been filed against his election. The first came from Marc Concas, former elected member of Christian Estrosi’s team. The second was brought by the former prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Laurent Hottiaux. Both requests contested the entrepreneur’s eligibility under Article L. 231 of the electoral code.
Pierre Ippolito has held the position of fourth deputy mayor of Nice since March, with responsibilities for businesses, commerce, economic development and higher education.
At the heart of the case is the elected official’s professional situation. His companies benefit from public contracts concluded with the City of Nice, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan area and the Ligne d’Azur Authority. This situation raised the question of a risk of conflict of interest and the compatibility of his roles as company director with an elective mandate.
During the October 6 hearing, the public rapporteur concluded that Pierre Ippolito was ineligible. The judges ultimately followed this analysis by pronouncing the annulment of his election.
Jean-Marie Benguettat and Alexandre Saradjian called to replace him
The decision concerns only the election of Pierre Ippolito and does not annul the entire municipal ballot of March 2026. His replacement is planned in the municipal council by Jean-Marie Benguettat and in the metropolitan council by Alexandre Saradjian.
The annulment is however not yet final. A one-month appeals period is open. In case of dispute, the State Council will have to rule on the decision of the administrative court.
The question of Pierre Ippolito’s eligibility had already been raised during the municipal campaign. Master Marc Concas, lawyer for Christian Estrosi during this period, had then contested the possibility for the entrepreneur to sit within the future municipal majority.
The lawyer believed that the functions of company director exercised by Pierre Ippolito and the public contracts held by his companies raised a difficulty under Article L. 231 of the electoral code. The dispute had then been referred to the election judge for examination after the ballot.
The decision handed down this Friday therefore comes several months after these initial challenges. Pierre Ippolito must now await any further judicial proceedings to know the final consequences of this annulment on his mandate.
The deputy mayor of Nice is announced as a guest on the ICI Côte d’Azur television news this Friday, October 9, from 7:14 pm.
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