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The town hall of Nice is used to receiving letters.
Since the end of December, Éric Ciotti has been using his pen to attack his best enemy, Christian Estrosi, on his management of the city.
“Mister Courier!”
, even renamed it Anthony Borré, the first deputy of the city councilor.
Through the intermediary this time of two of his soldiers, the deputy of the 1st district of the Alpes-Maritimes leads a new offensive.
In a recent letter that
Le Figaro
was able to consult , they ask the mayor and president of the metropolis of Nice to reveal his expense reports (with copies of the supporting documents) over the last three years (2020, 2021, 2022).
Bernard Chaix and Gaëlle Frontoni - elected to the municipal council on Christian Estrosi's list in 2020 but who have since turned their backs on him - sign the missive for the Ciotti camp.
“We are told that the city is extremely indebted, we are looking for all avenues to save money
,” explain the two elected officials, who say they had to return their offices in this context.
Barely hiding his ambitions for the town hall of Nice, Éric Ciotti continues to point out the financial situation of the fifth largest city in France and its metropolis.
The Maralpine parliamentarian considers that in the light of the latest legislative elections, he has every chance for the 2026 election. With this new offensive, he shows once again that he wants to understand this deadline as the hour of reckoning for taxpayers Nice.
At all costs, he denounces
"an abysmal debt of nearly 2 billion euros"
and a situation comparable to that of Paris and its mayor Anne Hidalgo.
"Nice is in the process of hidalgoisation"
, he insists, targeting
"delusional projects"
such as the demolition of the convention center.
Read alsoNice: between Ciotti and Estrosi, the hatchet is unearthed
Impossible not to hear the questions posed today to Christian Estrosi like those which have been addressed to Anne Hidalgo for more than five years concerning her expense reports.
A voluntary and strategic parallel on the part of the MP's camp.
“It speaks to people!”
, assumes one of his relatives.
Faced with requests for information, the elected socialist ended up complying with a decision of the Council of State.
The Nice affair has only just begun.
“We reserve the possibility of going further if they refuse to communicate them”
, confirms Bernard Chaix.
“And the calendar would play in favor of Eric Ciotti in view of the municipal …”
, adds a support.
“regular check”
Behind this new banderilla, Éric Ciotti and his two elected officials look at the lifestyle of Christian Estrosi.
In another letter posted on December 23, the president of the Republicans was already wondering about the expenses of the first magistrate.
He evoked
"his Parisian offices"
,
"a company vehicle with driver and flashing light in Paris"
, or even trips and expenses in luxury restaurants.
The "Ciottists" insist today to know the details, persuaded of expenses for unjustified personal ends with a credit card reserved for the mayor.
His trips to South Africa or Canada are also mentioned.
The total would amount to several hundred thousand euros.
Contacted by
Le Figaro
, the entourage of Christian Estrosi is defending itself.
“The costs incurred on the occasion of the missions accomplished by the executive in the exercise of its functions are subject to regular control by organizations and in particular by the regional chamber of accounts”, answers Marc Concas, deputy
to Ethics and Advocate.
The former member of the Socialist Party insists on extinguishing the wick by targeting
“two elected officials who seek to exist not by formulating projects but by trying to ignite a futile controversy”
.
"We can see the intention of these people who challenge the press with a letter when the stamp is not yet stuck!"
, also annoys a close friend of the mayor, denouncing
"delusions and existential maneuvers"
.
At this stage, Christian Estrosi's teams remain evasive about granting the request to disclose the expense reports.
