Ciotti Opens Strong Lead Over Estrosi in Nice’s First-Round Vote

Overview

• Multiple independent estimates put Éric Ciotti around 41–42% and Christian Estrosi near 31–32%, according to Ipsos BVA, Ifop-Fiducial and Elabe.
• Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux is estimated at about 12.2% and Mireille Damiano around 10%, placing both close to qualifying for the second round under municipal rules.
• Damiano has called for a left merger while Chesnel-Le Roux has so far refused, leaving open whether a unified list will emerge before the runoff.
• Estrosi’s setback follows his appeal for a broad anti-far-right front, which left leaders indicate they are unlikely to heed after casting both rivals as indistinguishable.
• Ciotti runs under a Union des droites alliance backed by the RN, a configuration seen as emblematic of the right’s split nationally, as the campaign also saw two suspects charged over a pig’s-head incident at Estrosi’s home, including entrepreneur Sevan Bol.