Rabah Souchi, 54, will take office on February 12, becoming number 2 behind Jérôme Marcenac, who remains the boss of the Nice “PM” He will settle down before knowing the judges' decision, scheduled for March 8. The Lyon public prosecutor's office had requested a six-month suspended prison sentence against him following two days of closely-attended hearings.

The rumor of his arrival among the 450 Nice agents had been circulating in Nice for several months.