Tensions between the mayor of Nice (Horizons), Christian Estrosi, and the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Hugues Moutouh, have been shaking the city for the past few days. Against a backdrop of drug trafficking-related violence, accusations are flying, and responses are multiplying.
The atmosphere in Nice has become increasingly tense in recent days. As the city struggles against a rise in drug trafficking-related violence, particularly in the Moulins district, tensions are escalating between Christian Estrosi and Hugues Moutouh. Since July, the situation has been on the brink of exploding. The tragic death of seven people, including four minors, in an arson attack linked to drug trafficking has made Moulins a symbol of the growing insecurity in Nice. Thus, Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, criticizes the crisis management by the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes.
“The police are absent in the fight against drug trafficking,” he denounced in an interview with Nice-Matin. For him, the problem is clear. It’s a “question of leadership, competence, and responsibility”. This sharp critique shows the extent of the disagreement between the city administration and the prefecture.
“As for me, I’m still waiting for the two slaps and off to bed!”
An old quote resurfaces to illustrate this conflict. Thus, an exasperated Christian Estrosi did not hesitate to recall Hugues Moutouh’s statements. When Moutouh was the prefect of Hérault, he made this shocking declaration: “If these children are raised like wild weeds, we shouldn’t be surprised that at 12 years old, they stone the police. The method is two slaps and off to bed!”.
In response, “As for me, I’m still waiting for the two slaps and off to bed!”, said the mayor. Estrosi is now demanding strong measures. Firstly, a prefect specifically dedicated to the fight against drug trafficking in Alpes-Maritimes. Additionally, he wants the urgent deployment of the Sentinelle forces in sensitive areas. He is calling for a vigorous response, commensurate with the stakes. For the mayor, Hugues Moutouh is no longer the right person for the job. He wants a prefect “competent who protects the people”, not a “bulldozer prefect”.
Hugues Moutouh’s Response
In the face of this offensive, Hugues Moutouh decided not to remain silent. But rather than directly attacking the mayor, he chose a more subtle response. Further, the Prefect published a message on X this Monday. He vigorously defends the law enforcement agencies, reminding that they “do not deserve such denigration”. The prefect acknowledges that the fight against drug trafficking is a difficult battle. However, he emphasizes the importance of the police work. “To combat delinquency, there is no miracle recipe nor magic potion,” he asserts, with the law enforcement placed at “the forefront”.
Patrick Allemand’s Reaction
As the situation intensifies, Patrick Allemand, president of the Nice PS city committee, also expressed his views. For him, Estrosi’s accusations against Moutouh lack credibility. “For years, the mayor of Nice has stood by idly in the face of the rise of drug trafficking,” he says. He reminds that beyond the current tensions, the city’s security situation is also “primarily his failure”. Since Estrosi has been in office, “there have been nine prefects in Alpes-Maritimes, but there has been only one mayor,” Allemand points out. The current situation, with the Moulins district becoming a hub of drug trafficking, is for him a “middle finger to both the State and the mayor”.
Not the First Time Christian Estrosi Has Clashed with a Prefect
The relationships have already been stormy in the past, notably under Adolphe Colrat, prefect from 2013 to 2016. At that time, Estrosi did not hesitate to openly criticize Colrat. He reportedly declared that the prefect’s term in the department had been a “painful exception”. Today, with Hugues Moutouh, the situation seems to be repeating itself.
In parallel, with the Ministry of the Interior currently handling current affairs, the situation could well become entrenched. In the absence of clear decisions, the war of words between Estrosi and Moutouh may continue. For now, both are entrenched in their positions.
