Éric Ciotti has instructed his lawyer, Franck de Vita, to formally file a civil suit in the investigation into the so-called "pig's head" affair in Nice. The former member of parliament for the Alpes-Maritimes region believes he suffered direct harm during the municipal election campaign and now wishes to access the case file. The affair dates back to February 27, 2026. A pig's head, cut in half, was hung in front of Christian Estrosi's home in Nice. It was accompanied by an insulting election poster bearing a Star of David. The incident was presented at the time as an antisemitic act and an attempt to intimidate the incumbent mayor.
Investigators are exploring the possibility of political manipulation.
Several suspects have since been arrested and charged. Their statements to the police have placed Christian Estrosi, his political entourage, and several people linked to his campaign at the center of serious accusations. Investigators have reportedly discovered contacts between some of the key figures in the case and individuals close to the outgoing mayor's team. They are investigating the hypothesis of an operation designed to portray Christian Estrosi as the victim of an attack orchestrated by his political opponents.
An unofficial team tasked with acting on social media
A parallel operation was allegedly created around Christian Estrosi's official campaign. This unofficial team was reportedly tasked with using social media to support the candidate and attack his opponents. Fake pages presented as support accounts were allegedly created. Content hostile to Éric Ciotti was also reportedly produced and disseminated during the municipal campaign. A budget of €50,000 was allegedly allocated to the paid promotion of these posts on the Meta group's platforms. Investigators are now seeking to determine the origin of this money, any potential sponsors, and the exact role of each individual involved.
Fake videos created using artificial intelligence
One of the suspects claims he was also asked to create fake videos using artificial intelligence. A fake recording featuring Éric Ciotti, Cyril Hanouna, and Vincent Bolloré was reportedly considered. The aim was allegedly to create content that could damage Éric Ciotti's reputation and influence the Nice election campaign. Police will have to determine whether these videos were actually produced, whether any were broadcast, and who gave the instructions.
The alleged promise of a 2 million euro public contract
The same suspect claims that he was promised a public contract by the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolitan Area if Christian Estrosi won the election. The contract in question was reportedly worth approximately €2 million. One of his associates was also allegedly slated to benefit from this promise. Investigators must now verify whether discussions regarding this contract took place, identify the individuals involved, and determine if any concrete commitments were made.
Éric Ciotti wants to know if the election was rigged.
Éric Ciotti believes that these accusations, if confirmed, would reveal a clandestine political operation carried out against him. He claims to have been the target of particularly vicious attacks throughout the municipal campaign. His filing as a civil party in the case will allow him access to the file, the evidence gathered by investigators, and the right to request further investigations. He specifically wants to know if financial resources, manipulated content, and fake accounts were used to influence voters in Nice. Éric Ciotti now says he trusts the justice system to establish responsibility and determine whether the Nice vote was manipulated.
