Great day for France, sad day for Cannes

Mayor David Lisnard runs for President

In the fifty years that I have been coming to the south of France—and the roughly twenty-five years I have lived and worked there most of the time—I have never encountered a politician, a public administrator, who radiates as much positive energy as the current mayor, David Lisnard.

He comes from a family with deep local roots: originally fishermen, later entrepreneurs. His great-grandfather ran a construction company and built the famous covered market of Forville; his grandfather owned a hotel; his father was a professional footballer. After an impressive academic career, he campaigned for Jacques Chirac, moved to Cannes, and—supported by the then-serving mayor Bernard Brochand—put himself forward for the mayoral elections. He won with 58% of the vote against Philippe Tabarot (now Minister of Transport) and went on to become perhaps the most popular mayor the city has ever known. That popularity was confirmed in the 2020 elections, when he was re-elected with an astonishing 88% of the vote.

David Lisnard is a man who turns words into action. He has devoted himself tirelessly to tackling Cannes’ many challenges. Cannes is a seaside city of some 70,000 inhabitants that hosts major international congresses, attracting not only hundreds of thousands of delegates but also millions of tourists. For a coastal town accessible largely from one side, this creates immense infrastructural pressure. For every project—and the inevitable disruption that often comes with it—he personally takes responsibility and explains his choices.

Seemingly inexhaustible, he is deeply committed to social issues, culture, education, public safety, and nature. Very much a man of his time, he masters social media and addresses his citizens almost daily, offering transparency and insight into his work. By speaking directly to people, he has brought politics and governance back to where they belong: close to the citizens.

Thanks to his dedication, Cannes has been named the world’s best and most popular congress city for four consecutive years. Accessible, warm, and profoundly engaged, he has propelled the city of his roots confidently onto the global stage. His professionalism, mastery of complex dossiers, and natural charisma led to his election as president of the National Association of Mayors.

And now he has announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential elections.
A wonderful development for France—
but a bittersweet moment for Cannes

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