The mayor of Nice, his wife, and the president of France Télévisions were placed in police custody in Marseille on Monday, June 30. They are being questioned as part of an investigation into the organization and funding conditions of two events held in Nice in 2023: the Junior Eurovision and the Nice Climate Summit.
Monday was marked by a series of hearings that took place in Marseille. Among those questioned by investigators were Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, his wife Laura Tenoudji-Estrosi, and Delphine Ernotte, the president of the public broadcasting group. All three were placed in custody.
They are being interrogated as part of an investigation into the organization modalities of two events held in Nice in 2023: the Junior Eurovision contest and the Nice Climate Summit. The case, initially opened in Nice, was transferred to the Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction (JIRS) of Marseille.
The Marseille prosecutor’s office has not commented at this stage. According to various media reports, the actions targeted by the investigation may fall under several criminal classifications: “misappropriation of public funds,” “illegal interest taking,” and “forgery in public writing.”
Municipal subsidies and supplier choices at the heart of the interrogations
As mentioned above, two events are under investigators’ scrutiny. The first is the Junior Eurovision 2023, whose organization in Nice was strongly supported by the municipality with a subsidy of 605,000 euros. The mayor’s wife, Laura Tenoudji-Estrosi, was chosen to co-host the opening ceremony. This decision raises questions for investigators due to the direct link between the municipal organizer and the host.
The second case involves the Nice Climate Summit, organized by the economic media outlet La Tribune in partnership with the city of Nice and the metropolis. The event benefited from public financial support of 526,175 euros. Laura Tenoudji-Estrosi was supposed to host two round tables but eventually withdrew. The city hall then specified that she was to intervene “voluntarily.”
France Télévisions, a partner of the Junior Eurovision, confirmed last Friday the summoning of its president and several collaborators. The public group stated that it “will fully cooperate with this investigation and intends to reserve its explanations for the judicial authorities.”
Reports would be at the origin of these investigations. One of them reportedly came from local ecologist elected officials who alerted the justice system to the financing conditions of the climate summit. Searches conducted at Nice city hall in November 2024 and April 2025 recovered several documents related to these events.
Jean-Christophe Tortora, president of La Tribune, was also summoned this Monday. Contacted by AFP, his lawyer refused to comment on the case.
The Estrosi couple would contest having committed any offense, according to several media outlets. The investigation continues, and further hearings may take place in the days to come.
