The race to become Beausoleil’s next mayor officially began this week, as Nicolas Spinelli — the first to declare his candidacy — held his inaugural public meeting at the Centre Culturel Prince Jacques on Thursday 7th November.
The March 2026 elections are beginning to take shape, with Spinelli joined by Jean-Jacques Guitard, who has announced his intention to run, and Stéphane Manfredi, the current opposition leader, who has confirmed the formation of a list, although his role as its head remains unconfirmed.
Speaking to attendees, Spinelli, who is running as an independent candidate, highlighted his desire for meaningful exchange rather than simply holding office. “I don’t want to be mayor, I want to be a good mayor,” he told the audience, stressing that the role requires preparation and genuine commitment to serving the community.
Afterwards, the candidate outlined serious concerns about the town’s direction, particularly regarding urban development policy.
The construction paradox
A central theme of Spinelli’s address was opposition to what he described as excessive construction. He pointed to a striking paradox: despite ongoing building projects, Beausoleil lost 1,200 residents between 2015 and 2022 – a 10% population decline.
“We’re right next to Monaco. Everyone wants to live here to walk to work in Monaco. We build housing every day. We’re attractive, we build, and we lose population,” Spinelli said, attributing this to expensive properties purchased by foreign investors and increasingly used for short-term rentals rather than permanent residences.
He cited figured showing secondary residences in Beausoleil nearly tripled from 1,254 in 2000 to 4,260 today.
Spinelli also criticised the October 2024 vote on the town’s Local Urban Plan, which he opposed and voted against, leading to his resignation from his delegated responsibilities and payments. He argued the plan accelerated construction contrary to electoral promises made in 2020 to limit building.
Should he be elected, Spinelli promised to modify the Local Urban Plan, halt construction in geologically sensitive areas, and require developers to fund community facilities such as sports halls or local shops as conditions for building permits. He pointed to the €20 million pavement widening project on Boulevard Guynemer, where Monaco is contributing €10 million, questioning why Beausoleil developers who had profited substantially weren’t required to contribute the remaining amount rather than taxpayers.
Policy priorities
Beyond urban planning, Spinelli highlighted additional priorities including a 24-hour municipal police coverage with additional officers, as well as improved public transport – drawing on his experience managing the service for the CAF from 2008-2014 when he says bus lines increased by 30%, and sustained year-round cleanliness efforts, rather than what he described as pre-election intensification.
He also proposed transforming the Devens sports complex into a major recreational facility and called for construction of an EHPAD (care home for the elderly) in Beausoleil.
On social policy, he plans to focus on prioritising children, elderly, and disabled people.
A plan of rigour
Regarding municipal governance, Spinelli proposed what he called a “plan of rigour” beginning with elected officials: a 20% salary reduction for the mayor, deputy mayors and municipal councillors, elimination of official cars, drivers, private meals, travel and mobile phones at the mayor’s office, and mandatory clean criminal records for all candidates on his list, with any elected official required to resign if convicted during their term.
He also promised to create a permanent cooperation structure with Monaco to ensure transparency and balance in bilateral agreements. Born and educated in Monaco himself, he acknowledged the complementary relationship, but pointed out that while Monaco provides funding, it is Beausoleil that permanently grants the land.
His full programme will be released in February and the successful candidate will serve until 2032.
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Main photo credit: Monaco Life.