The mayor of Nice, who was Minister of Nicolas Sarkozy, wants to greet “the determining action” of the former president through this symbolic name, a few days after his sentence to a prison sentence.
The mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi (Horizons) announced on his social networks this Monday, wanting to give the name of Nicolas Sarkozy to the forecourt located in front of the future Grand Hôtel des police. An announcement which comes a few days after the sentence of the former President of the Republic to a prison sentence in the Libyan financing case of his campaign.
“I decided to give the name of Nicolas Sarkozy to the future forecourt of our hotel in municipal and national police”wrote Christian Estrosi on his X account, he who was Secretary of State for Overseas (2007-2008) then Minister of Industry (2009-2010) under his presidency.
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This symbolic denomination, which still has to be subject to the vote of the municipal council on Wednesday, will be given in the place fitted out in front of the future Hôtel des Polices de Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), which must be inaugurated in October 2026. Municipal and national police will be gathered in this same building, a former hospital redeveloped in a giant police station (50,000 square meters) equipped with the latest technologies. A project at more than 243 million euros, of which 173.5 million are funded by the State.
“Provocation” for the Nice left
“Present from the outset, he supported this unique project and given his interest in our police and the security of the Niçoises and the Niçois”justified Christian Estrosi as to the choice of the name of Nicolas Sarkozy for the forecourt. It is for the mayor of “Greet the decisive action he carried out, first as Minister of the Interior then as President of the Republic, by making security a national priority”continued the mayor of Nice, ex-member of the Republicans before supporting Emmanuel Macron, then joining Horizons, the party of Édouard Philippe.
This unusual announcement comes three days after the historic sentence of the former head of the State to five years in prison with provisional execution in the Libyan financing case of his 2007 campaign, which means that he will soon be imprisoned despite his call for the decision. “Beyond the thunderclap that this condemnation represents, I want to say my friendship and my esteem”had reacted Christian Estrosi on Thursday.
This announcement was perceived as “One more provocation that still damages the image of our city” By Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux, elected ecologist in Nice and candidate for the next municipal elections for a common list with the socialists and the communists. “Nice deserves better than being associated with a president condemned by justice and symbol of judicial affairs”she continued, calling rather to “Pay tribute to Robert Badinter” For the name of this forecourt, which has not finished making people speak.
Before this “Place Nicolas Sarkozy”, the city of Nice also chose to give the names of Charles Pasqua, ex-minister of the interior, to an alley, Jacques doctor, ex-mayor of Nice, to a street, and that of Jacques Chirac in the course near the Quai des United States.
