Nice to replace Jacques Chirac statue with bronze sculpture

The city of Nice has announced a two-stage plan to address the deteriorating condition of the statue of former French President Jacques Chirac. Mayor Éric Ciotti revealed that the current monument, located on the avenue bearing Chirac's name, will undergo emergency restoration before being permanently replaced by a new bronze sculpture within the next year.

Inaugurated in February 2020, the original 2.20-meter statue was constructed from resin and fiberglass to meet an urgent three-week production deadline. Designed by local carnival experts to imitate bronze with a simple patina, the work was intended as a temporary measure. However, the sculpture was never replaced and has since suffered significant damage from weather, sea air, and vandalism, resulting in structural decay and missing pieces.