Elections in Nice: Ciotti Leads in Polls, Gains Key Endorsement from Ginésy

With three weeks to go until the municipal elections in Nice, the campaign is intensifying, and polls maintain a clear lead for Éric Ciotti over Christian Estrosi, who is seeking a third term. A study published on February 27th by the newspaper “Le Figaro” indicates that Ciotti, the president of the Les Républicains party, would win in the second round, securing 52% of the vote compared to 48% for Estrosi. A poll considering a wider field of candidates also favors Ciotti (53% to 47%). These figures were confirmed by an independent survey from the “BFMTV” station on the same day, which also attributes 52% support to Ciotti. The publication of this data coincided with a significant political move. Charles Ange Ginésy, the influential president of the Alpes-Maritimes departmental council and a former ally of Estrosi, publicly announced his support for Ciotti on February 27th. This move, reported by BFMTV, deals a serious blow to the incumbent mayor's campaign and strengthens his rival's position in local power circles. Ginésy, a former mayor himself, holds considerable authority in the region. Nice, as France's fifth-largest city and the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes, has been a right-wing stronghold for decades. Internal struggles within this camp have often had a decisive impact on the national political scene, and the position of mayor of this city is considered one of the most important local government posts in the country. In response to polls favoring his rival and the loss of an ally, Christian Estrosi's team has sharpened the campaign's tone. Already on February 26th, the day before the polls were published, it released the so-called “black record” of Ciotti's management of the department. The document, reported by “Le Parisien” and “20minutes,” is said to be a catalog of accusations, including financial negligence, an increase in the department's public debt, and controversial investment decisions. This direct personal attack is an attempt to divert voters' attention from Ciotti's lead and discredit his managerial experience. Media outlets such as “Le Figaro” and “Franceinfo” describe this conflict as the ultimate clash of “brother enemies” – two figures who collaborated for years within the same political formation and are now engaged in a no-holds-barred fight for control of a key city. „Municipales à Nice : donné vainqueur dans tous les cas, Ciotti prend l'avantage sur Estrosi... Découvrez le sondage du Figaro” (Municipal elections in Nice: projected winner in all scenarios, Ciotti takes the lead over Estrosi... Discover the Figaro poll) — Le Figaro. The outcome of the March elections will have significance beyond Nice's borders, affecting the internal balance of power within the Les Républicains party and future alignments on the French political scene.