"Our priority will be the purchasing power of the people of Nice": Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux elected leader of the Greens for the 2026 municipal elections in Nice

She's 62 years old. And will be retiring in a few days. "I'll be able to devote myself 100% to my duties and my projects," smiles Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux, in her office opposite the town hall. The discreet but combative opposition member of the Ecologists, often mistreated by Christian Estrosi, has just won her party's primary in Nice.

This engineer "has been appointed leader to lead the environmental movement in Nice in preparation for the 2026 municipal elections," announced Saber Gasmi, co-secretary of the Ecologists of Nice. Opposite her, her running mate, elected representative Fabrice Decoupigny, was less convincing during this internal election in the form of debate and questions and answers... " With even some annoying questions," insists Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux.

Even annoying questions? Like which one?

Like when we talked about La France Insoumise. We didn't have the same position.

You disagreed with Fabrice Decoupigny?

I'm not closing the door on anyone. I want to give the left, as a whole, the opportunity to be represented. I want the broadest possible left. Fabrice was much more worried about having LFI. It's one of the issues where we're not completely in sync. Even if I don't always agree with Les Insoumis at the national level.

Not in phase with Jean-Luc Mélenchon, you mean?

That's it, not in step with Mélenchon and his inner circle. These aren't necessarily my values, not my way of doing politics. I'm talking about centralism, the culture of the leader. If we put together a list of the entire left in Nice, all representations must be able to express themselves.

Isn't it the same with local rebel representatives?

No. If they want to participate in the union of the left and the ecologists, we'll see if they're in tune with our project and want to be part of it. Among the ecologists, we're more focused on the culture of decentralism: we have the choice of our alliances at the local level, within the framework of our values, of course.

Until January, you worked only with the French Communist Party (PCF) and the Socialist Party (PS). Did you have any points of disagreement as you began developing your municipal project?

None! And we quickly agreed: our priority will be the purchasing power of the people of Nice.

Will this be your guiding principle during the campaign?

The green thread rather (smile) . In Nice, it is reduced by the price of housing, transport, and local taxes which have increased due to bad investments.

Which ones?

We obviously agree with the construction of tram line 5 and the Haliotis 2 wastewater treatment plant, costly but necessary investments. But destroying a convention center [Acropolis] to build a temporary one, or constructing facilities for the 2030 Olympic Games, these were far from being priorities.

If you succeed in uniting the left, you will have to juggle egos to put together the list, to choose the head of the list... Are you aware of that?

This won't be the easiest challenge. Today, we're in the most exciting phase: taking stock of Christian Estrosi and developing our project. We have the dream and the goal of changing the lives of the people of Nice. Managing egos will be complex and laborious, because it will require men and women, seasoned elected officials, and new blood. And, if we lose, there will be frustrated people who won't take their seats.

Are you ready to be top of the list in 2026?

This is also a mandate given to me by the local Green group: to carry out a project and take the lead on the list.

But are you ready to take the plunge?

I'm not on that path, but I'm ready for it, yes.

How strong would your application be?

To convey the message that ecology doesn't have enough of a place in Nice. That being eco-friendly isn't just about greening and planting trees, as the mayor does.

If Eric Ciotti ends up running, will that be good for the left?

Of course, the division between the right and the far right is a good thing, giving us a window of opportunity! We can come out on top. On one side, we have Estrosi's right, which does a lot of PR and favors Nice as a city for major events. On the other, Ciotti and the far right, with its dangers. With Ciotti, who says, for example, that Old Nice is Disneyland. He doesn't have much respect for the people of Nice, for the poorest. There's a 20% poverty rate in Nice. We haven't forgotten that.

If you were to take office, what would be your first step?

Moving toward free transport for Nice residents and metropolitan residents. Not for tourists, which would allow us to retain the staff who carry out checks and improve public order, especially for women.