Rotten chicken vs. golden eagle: Éric Ciotti hits back at Renaud Muselier in Nice council meeting

Nice Mayor Éric Ciotti publicly rebuked regional president Renaud Muselier for calling the city's eagle emblem a "rotten chicken." The dispute highlights the ongoing friction between the two politicians, which has intensified following Nice's withdrawal from hosting ice events for the 2030 Winter Olympics.

Muselier's provocative comments, made on local BFM television, were a direct response to the unveiling of potential emblems for the 2030 Games. He suggested the Nice eagle was no longer suitable and would not be chosen as a mascot. This remark was seen as an insult to the city's identity and history, particularly as the eagle is a prominent symbol dating back to the Dukes of Savoy and appears on everything from municipal coats of arms to the OGC Nice football team's jerseys.

Ciotti, who is also the mayor of Nice, immediately took to social media to condemn Muselier's language as "crass vulgarity" and "insulting to the people of Nice." He also took a jab at Muselier's upcoming Senate bid, suggesting he would soon be gone from regional politics. The mayor then brought a statuette of the crowned eagle to the municipal council meeting, placing it before him as a defiant display of civic pride.

The rivalry between Ciotti and Muselier is well-documented and has simmered for years. The recent controversy over the Olympic ice events, which saw Nice lose its hosting rights to Lyon, has further inflamed their animosity. Muselier holds Ciotti responsible for this decision, leading to a series of public exchanges that have now escalated to personal insults over city symbols.