Éric Ciotti, the mayor of Nice and leader of the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR), announced on September 5 that he is seeking to form a political alliance with Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) ahead of the 2027 presidential election. During a meeting with his party in Levens, a town in the Alpes-Maritimes region, Ciotti pledged his full support for Le Pen’s candidacy, stating he would back her "with loyalty, determination, and commitment." He mentioned ongoing talks with Le Pen and her deputy, Jordan Bardella, about forming a united front. Ciotti argued that France needs a "deep break" from the current political landscape and an end to what he calls "macronism," a term referring to the policies of President Emmanuel Macron. He also stated that all UDR deputies and local officials would join the alliance. Ciotti proposed a major overhaul of France’s administrative structure, suggesting the creation of "provinces" by merging departments, regions, and metropolitan areas. He criticized the current regional leaders—such as Christian Estrosi (Muselier), Laurent Wauquiez, Xavier Bertrand, and Florence Pécresse—as "accountants of decline," implying they have failed to address regional challenges. He called for ending the complex, layered system of local governance, which he referred to as the "territorial millefeuille," and instead implementing a "big territorial bang" that would give more power to local authorities. On economic issues, Ciotti called for eliminating "production taxes for businesses," which he believes burden companies and hinder growth. He also advocated for reforming or abolishing the current pension system, which he describes as "deeply unbalanced," and for reforming or abolishing inheritance taxes, which he calls a "tax on death" that disproportionately affects families. These proposals aim to reduce the financial burden on individuals and businesses while promoting economic revitalization. Ciotti also outlined strict immigration policies, including a temporary halt on asylum rights, the abolition of family reunification for immigrants, and the removal of the right of soil, which currently allows undocumented immigrants to gain citizenship after living in France for a certain period. He proposed reinstating the "double penalty" for foreign nationals convicted of crimes, meaning they would face both imprisonment and deportation. Ciotti emphasized that France must "regain its identity," a phrase that reflects his broader vision of a more nationalistic and culturally focused France.