Nice – 16.06.2026: The Mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti, has demanded the immediate resignation of Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot in a letter to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The trigger was an incident on June 14, 2026, during the “Bharat Innovates” fair in Nice, which was also attended by President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ciotti accuses Tabarot of publicly calling him a “Nabot” (a derogatory term for a person of short stature) and then whispering into his ear: “I will make you disappear. I will make you disappear by sending Georgians after you.” Ciotti regards this behavior as a serious threat and has filed a complaint with the Nice public prosecutor’s office.
In his letter to Prime Minister Lecornu, Ciotti describes the minister’s conduct as “extremely serious” and demands his immediate dismissal. The mayor emphasizes that the events occurred without any provocation on his part and in front of several witnesses.
In contrast, Tabarot’s circle rejects the accusations. It is claimed that the minister merely reacted to repeated provocations by Ciotti. The two politicians have known each other for around 30 years. According to Tabarot, Ciotti threatened him by saying he wanted to remove him “from the Senate” and even “from the government.” These allegations are part of a series of public and private disputes between the two politicians in recent weeks.
The escalation highlights the growing tensions within the right-wing political scene in Alpes-Maritimes. In 2024, Ciotti left the conservative party Les Républicains and positioned himself close to the Rassemblement National. Earlier, Tabarot had accused Ciotti of endangering the Olympic ice sports event of the 2030 Games in Nice, which further worsened the atmosphere.
The dispute between Ciotti and Tabarot sheds light on internal power struggles within the French right and threatens to influence the upcoming Senate elections as well. The political landscape in Alpes-Maritimes is currently undergoing reorganization, with personal conflicts increasingly shaping the political debate.
The public prosecutor’s office in Nice has confirmed receipt of the complaint and is currently examining whether to initiate criminal investigations. However, no further legal steps are known so far. Meanwhile, public expectation is growing as to how the government will respond to the allegations, which could damage the reputation of the political class.
The political debate around the incident is also closely watching the role of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, whose reaction is seen as a signal for handling internal conflicts and power struggles within the government. The coming period will show how this crisis within the right-wing party landscape in southeastern France will be resolved.
Sources
- Franceinfo