The ViVA! Citizen Gathering Calls for the Union of Left and Ecologist Forces for the Upcoming Municipal Elections in Nice.
During its general assembly on October 8, the movement reaffirmed its support for the New Popular Front (NFP). The latter had managed to surpass the National Rally in the second round of the legislative elections at the national level.
The movement refuses to let Nice be reduced to a battle between Christian Estrosi’s right-wing and Éric Ciotti’s far-right. It seeks to propose a citizen alternative. ViVA! calls for the formation of a single list for the 2026 municipal elections, bringing together all progressive forces. They invite citizens, associations, and political forces to unite around a common program. Still very critical of Nice’s mayor Christian Estrosi’s policies, the left-wing union aims to reduce inequalities.
Housing Crisis, Tourism, Cultural, and Sports Policy…
Among various topics of concern, the housing crisis is widely discussed. “Nice has barely 14% of social housing whereas the law requires 25%. Nice has the most expensive rents in France after Paris, but the mayor and his team still refuse to implement rent control,” the party explains in a statement published today.
ViVA! also denounces the city’s tourism policy, deemed “deadly.” The airport’s expansion, the organization of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the city’s concretization are all projects that they believe compromise the environment. The municipality is also accused of pursuing a climate-damaging policy, with little chance of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
In terms of culture and sports, ViVA! regrets an approach too focused on events. Decisions such as the destruction of the Théâtre National de Nice and Acropolis, or the closure of the Nucéra library, are made without consulting the population. For them, these major projects lack logic and worsen the city’s debt.
In matters of security, the mayor of Nice’s management is also criticized. ViVA! considers that excessive technological surveillance has little effect on crime, while drug trafficking continues to grow.
The battle for the 2026 municipal elections is already underway. It remains to be seen who will rally to this new alliance. For now, not all left-wing forces have yet responded to VIVA!’s call.