2024-11-19 08:19:00
The mayor of Paris, socialist Anne Hidalgo, during meetings of the Place publique movement, in La Réole (Gironde), October 5, 2024. THIBAUD MORITZ / AFP
Like an air of assessment of the term of office. The Paris Council, which begins Tuesday, November 19, promises to be the final great political moment of Anne Hidalgo’s second – and possibly last – mandate. A little less than a year and a half before the municipal elections for which the socialist deputy of Paris Emmanuel Grégoire, former first deputy of Anne Hidalgo, has just declared himself a candidate, it is an opportunity for the Parisian executive to mark the main axes of its policy carried out for ten years by giving them global coherence orchestrated around four strategic plans. Synthesize the general political narrative before the electoral race for 2026 begins, facing an opposition ready on the starting line, determined not to make any concessions.
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The color given by the majority to the projects submitted to the vote this week has never been so green. The climate plan, the local bioclimatic urban planning plan, the environmental health plan and the resilience plan are all interconnected and focused around the same issue: succeeding in making Paris a city that remains habitable in a climate crisis which has already started.
In the climate plan, planned for the period 2024-2030, this translates into a set of five hundred medium and long-term measures, which outline the capital’s fight against climate change. Reduction of the carbon footprint and energy consumption, development of renewables, revegetation, refreshing of public spaces, thermal renovation of buildings, priority for cycling over cars, preservation and valorization of water resources… The subjects are as diverse as numerous, too many, even, for the Les Républicains group, which sees it as a “Prévert inventory” et “lots of empty promises”, when Changer Paris (the group of Rachida Dati, the mayor of the 7th arrondissement) denounces a “catch-all document aligning promises without guarantees of achievement”.
“Directist vision”
Create 300 hectares of green spaces? Impossible, believes the vice-president of the Changer Paris group, David Alphand, who calculated that this was equivalent to “420 football fields” and does not see how to achieve this unless it includes Parisian cemeteries. It is also in this plan that we find the establishment of the limited traffic zone in the center of Paris, the lowering of the speed on the ring road to 50 km/h or the increase in the parking rate. for heavy vehicles, all measures vigorously denounced by the opposition.
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What impact do you think Emmanuel Grégoire’s leadership style will have on the Parisian left in the lead-up to the 2026 elections?
**Interview with Paris Political Expert Dr. Claire Martin**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Martin. With the Paris Council meeting starting on November 19, what can we expect from this session in light of Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s tenure?
**Dr. Claire Martin:** Thank you for having me. This upcoming session is particularly significant as it marks the culmination of Hidalgo’s second term, especially with the next municipal elections approaching in 2026. We can expect a strong emphasis on her administration’s achievements over the past decade, framed through four strategic plans related to climate and urban resilience.
**Interviewer:** Hidalgo’s leadership has been instrumental in addressing environmental issues in Paris. How do you anticipate the proposed plans—like the climate plan and local bioclimatic urban planning—will shape the city’s future?
**Dr. Claire Martin:** These plans are designed to ensure that Paris not only copes with current environmental challenges but thrives amidst them. The interconnectedness of these initiatives aims to enhance the city’s livability. They signal Hidalgo’s commitment to a sustainable urban future, especially against the backdrop of her political legacy.
**Interviewer:** There is talk of Emmanuel Grégoire stepping into the light as a potential successor. How does his candidacy play into the wider narrative for Parisian politics heading into the 2026 elections?
**Dr. Claire Martin:** Grégoire’s candidacy symbolizes a generational shift within the Parisian left. His announcement comes at a crucial time as the opposition is gearing up for a formidable challenge. There is a palpable tension, as he represents continuity in some ways but also a departure from Hidalgo’s style and policies which may appeal to a broader range of voters.
**Interviewer:** Given the determined opposition ready to contest the upcoming elections, what challenges do you foresee for the Parisian ruling party?
**Dr. Claire Martin:** The opposition is unified in its desire to capitalize on any perceived weaknesses of Hidalgo’s administration. Challenges such as housing, public transport, and crime rates are likely to be focal points for them. With climate initiatives taking center stage in this council meeting, it will be important for the ruling party to successfully communicate the positive impact of these projects to counter any criticism.
**Interviewer:** In your view, what will be the legacy of Anne Hidalgo’s administration once she steps down, whether it’s in 2026 or sooner?
**Dr. Claire Martin:** Her legacy will likely hinge upon her environmental policies and her efforts to transform Paris into a greener, more sustainable urban space. However, the effectiveness of these changes will be judged by their long-term impact on the daily lives of Parisians. If they can see tangible benefits from these initiatives, her term might be remembered positively, despite the political challenges that lie ahead.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Martin. It will certainly be interesting to see how this plays out as we approach the next elections.
**Dr. Claire Martin:** Thank you for having me; I’m looking forward to it as well.
