Le Pen and Ciotti Alliance Poised for Landslide Victory in French Riviera

A new poll shows Marine Le Pen and Eric Ciotti’s alliance dominating the French Riviera with nearly 50 percent of the vote ahead of potential new elections.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 18, 2026, 7:03 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

A Shifting Political Landscape in Southern France

The political map of the French Riviera is undergoing a dramatic transformation according to the latest polling data released this week. The survey indicates that the strategic alliance between Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and Eric Ciotti’s Union of the Right for the Republic is on track to secure a historic victory in the Alpes Maritimes department. Current projections suggest that this right wing coalition could capture between eight and nine of the nine available seats in the region. With nearly fifty percent of the intended vote share, the alliance has successfully consolidated a broad base of support that spans from traditional conservative voters to those seeking more radical populist alternatives. This surge in popularity reflects a growing discontent with the status quo and a desire for a firm departure from current national policies.

The Alliance of National Rally and the Traditional Right

The success of this coalition is largely attributed to the controversial but effective partnership between Marine Le Pen and Eric Ciotti. Ciotti, a prominent figure who previously led the traditional conservative party known as The Republicans, broke with many of his colleagues to form this pact. This move initially triggered a civil war within the traditional right, but the polling suggests that the voters in his home region of the French Riviera have embraced the union. By combining the grassroots populist energy of the National Rally with the institutional weight of Ciotti’s local network, the alliance has created a formidable electoral machine. This partnership is viewed as a blueprint for a broader national realignment where the traditional distinctions between the center right and the far right continue to blur.

Waning Support for the Centrist Bloc

While the far right celebrates these projections, the results paint a bleak picture for President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc. The Renaissance party and its allies are struggling to maintain a foothold in a region where they were once competitive. The poll shows a significant erosion of support for the center, as voters express frustration with issues ranging from the cost of living to security and immigration. In several key constituencies, the centrist candidates are trailing far behind the leaders, suggesting they may be shut out of the final rounds o...