In 2026, "66% of Antibes residents want me to run again": will Jean Leonetti pass the sixth round?

After 30 years in office and a municipal election approaching, Jean Leonetti knows that the question is on everyone's lips (and in some minds). Will the mayor of Antibes run for a 6th time in March 2026? "Am I the one who has to decide or is it the people of Antibes?" So, the politician made a rather surprising decision: to commission a poll of residents in May from Ifop, "in my own name." And only one question was asked: do you want your mayor, Jean Leonetti, to be re-elected at the end of his term in 2026? "66% want me to run again," he reports. "23% say it would be better to have someone else, without saying who." The remaining 11% did not give their opinion.

"But, is it wise? " he replied. " I note my marital status [he will be 77 on July 9] , my state of fitness, intellectually and physically it works, the desire has not left me, we have the projects and the people of Antibes want me." End of the suspense? "No, I will ask myself the question again when the deadline arrives." What could make Jean Leonetti give up? "It is not a good idea to consider that one is indispensable and to go to the end of one's strength. (...) When you are mayor, your life is precarious, because subject to elections, so you have to work for your city as if tomorrow, you were no longer mayor and the city continues. I think that, in this area, I have done a little better than others: there is a team and the city will not be abandoned if a truck runs over my head..."

"The next step must always be ready."

However, he refrains from clearly naming the person who could succeed him. Even leaving a certain vagueness hanging... "It is better not to appoint people, let them go spontaneously. I find that it is infantilizing and antidemocratic. I have organized my city so that I do not live in a desert: I have a 1st deputy who is vice-president of the departmental council [Jacques Gente] , a deputy who is vice-president of the Region [Serge Amar], two parliamentarians [Senator Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp and MP Éric Pauget] , Xavier Wiik [deputy] , who is also a beautiful person. I will continue to try to develop the power and diversity of the force of Antibes." Wouldn't Éric Pauget – long presented as Leonetti's heir apparent – ​​be the obvious successor and a good mayor of Antibes ⁽¹⁾ ? "It will be up to the people of Antibes to say." "The next step must always be ready, but we have nothing to impose on the people of Antibes," continues Jean Leonetti.

1. In May, Éric Pauget took everyone by surprise by declaring on France 3 that he would ask the people of Antibes if Jean Leonetti did not go (Nice-Matin, May 23).