"We don't need a bling-bling candidate in Menton," says young deputy Florent Champion, who has declared his support for the 2026 municipal elections.

Florent Champion takes the plunge.

The deputy mayor of Menton, who is responsible for social affairs, announced this Friday evening at the Inky Bar that he is a candidate in the 2026 municipal elections. He is supported by first deputy mayor Patrice Novelli, president of the Menton Republican Rally, and by some of the majority's elected officials.

"We don't need a bling-bling candidate in Menton who falls in love with our city nine months before the elections, nor a candidate who suddenly finds a family connection in Menton, nor a candidate from the County of Nice. We need a candidate whose deepest roots are local, who deeply loves Menton, who lives in Menton, who breathes Menton," declared Patrice Novelli, at a press conference.

Wearing a navy blue suit and impeccable haircut, Florent Champion steps up to the lectern. The young elected official, who will celebrate his 30th birthday next week, is beaming. Having joined the municipal council in 2014, when he was only 18, the Menton native is committed to defending the interests of his hometown. Like Patrice Novelli, he has "Menton at his core."

He owes his passion for public affairs to his grandfather, Laurent Sicardi, "who had great respect for Francis Palmero" . After his baccalaureate, Florent Champion naturally headed to the Sciences Po campus to study politics. He continued his studies in Paris, then abroad before returning to his homeland, attracted by "the invisible link that connects all Menton residents to their campanin" .

Alongside Jean-Claude Guibal, first, the young elected official tried his hand at local public life. He then joined the opposition in 2020, on the list of Olivier Bettati and Patrice Novelli. In 2022, Yves Juhel became mayor of Menton and entrusted Social Affairs to Florent Champion. "Grappled with the concerns of the people of Menton" , the deputy learned to "master all the cogs" of the municipal machine. He launched an audit of the CCAS to "refloat the establishment which was on the verge of being placed under supervision". Responsibilities which "forged his experience" and gave rise to an ambition: that of "revitalizing Menton" .

Neither heir nor dauphin

"I am neither the heir nor the heir," the young deputy immediately clarifies, regretting that this mandate has been marred by "controversies and hubbub ." Florent Champion wants to impose a "long-term vision" and "bring the breath of [his] youth to Menton" in order to make it "the sustainable city of tomorrow." "What interests me is the local, the daily lives of people," he says. "I aspire to bring together broadly personalities from civil society and the associative world," he adds, indicating that he will officially launch his movement in June.

His ambition? "To work with integrity and seriousness" for the good of his city. Security, living environment, transport, employment, and greening will be part of his program. "We have significant challenges to face," particularly to "limit large-scale construction and restore our heritage buildings, our sports and cultural facilities." To achieve this, he will rely on the advice of Patrice Novelli , "elected for 36 years," and all the people of good will who believe in their champion.