Nice Mayoral Race Rocked by Eligibility Concerns
The mayoral campaign in Nice, France, has entered a turbulent phase as questions surrounding the eligibility of candidates continue to surface. The latest development involves Anne Ramos, a key deputy to incumbent Christian Estrosi, who is reportedly ineligible to run due to her position at Côte d’Azur habitat, a social housing organization linked to the Nice-Côte d’Azur Metropolis.
This follows a similar situation involving Jean-Pierre Rivère, who withdrew from Éric Ciotti’s list earlier this month after his return to the presidency of OGC Nice raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest under French electoral law. The back-and-forth over eligibility is rapidly becoming a defining characteristic of the race, with both sides accusing the other of attempting to manipulate the process.
According to sources close to the matter, Ramos’s ineligibility predates 2020, meaning she may have been serving with a legal cloud over her head for the past six years. This raises questions about the validity of decisions she may have made during that period, though some sources suggest any concerns are limited to actions taken in the last two months of her tenure.
Ramos herself maintains her innocence, stating, “I decided, as of May 2025 and for personal reasons, not to run again.” She further asserted, “No ineligibility has ever been noted: all competent checks have taken place, in complete transparency, without the slightest observation.” Ramos expressed regret that “some choose to fuel insinuations while I withdraw from municipal public debate. the facts are clear and deserve to be respected.”
The issue stems from French electoral law, which prohibits individuals holding certain positions – particularly within publicly-owned organizations – from simultaneously serving as elected officials. The Métropole Nice-Côte d’Azur reportedly investigated Ramos’s potential ineligibility as early as November 2019, commissioning a legal opinion from a Lyon-based lawyer.
The lawyer’s report, which has been reviewed, concluded that it would be difficult to demonstrate that Ramos was not part of the management team of Côte d’Azur habitat. This position, the report stated, was incompatible with her role as a municipal and metropolitan councilor. The lawyer warned that this irregularity could lead to the annulment of the election results.
The focus on eligibility began with Rivère’s withdrawal from Ciotti’s list. Estrosi’s camp initially mocked Rivère’s situation, calling him a “failed acquisition.” The issue then resurfaced with Pierre Ippolito, another member of Ciotti’s list, prompting accusations from Estrosi’s allies that Ciotti’s alliance was “amateurish” for including a potentially ineligible candidate.
The debate over Ippolito culminated in a ruling from the administrative court instructing the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes to validate Ciotti’s list, despite the questions surrounding Ippolito’s eligibility. Estrosi’s supporters argued that the responsibility for ensuring candidate eligibility rested with Ciotti, not the state.
The word “ineligibility” has become central to the campaign, carrying a significant weight despite its relatively low Scrabble score. The unfolding events highlight the strictness of French electoral law and the potential for even the appearance of impropriety to derail a candidacy. As the March 10th runoff election approaches, the focus remains on ensuring the integrity of the process and the eligibility of all candidates.
