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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How do you envision the future of the Parisian left following your tenure, particularly with Emmanuel Grégoire’s candidacy?
**Interview with Anne Hidalgo: Reflecting on Ten Years of Leadership and the Future of Paris**
**Interviewer:** Good morning, Mayor Hidalgo. As you prepare for the Paris Council meeting on November 19, you’re at the end of your second term. How do you assess your decade in office?
**Anne Hidalgo:** Good morning! It’s been an incredible journey filled with both challenges and achievements. My time as mayor has focused on making Paris a more sustainable, inclusive, and livable city. As we approach the upcoming municipal elections in 2026, I believe it’s crucial to reflect on our accomplishments while recognizing the work still ahead of us.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of the upcoming elections, there’s a lot of speculation about your role and that of Emmanuel Grégoire, your former deputy. What do you think the future holds for the Parisian left?
**Anne Hidalgo:** The future is always filled with possibilities. Emmanuel Grégoire has declared his candidacy, which shows that we have strong leadership ready to continue the work we’ve started. While I have always been committed to my role, it’s important for the party to explore new visions and ideas. Our focus should remain on uniting and strengthening the left to effectively address our city’s challenges.
**Interviewer:** Your administration has prominently featured environmental initiatives—could you elaborate on the strategic plans that will be discussed in the council?
**Anne Hidalgo:** Absolutely. This week, we’re presenting four linked strategic plans: a climate plan, a bioclimatic urban planning initiative, an environmental health plan, and a resilience plan. Together, these efforts aim to ensure that Paris remains a livable city, focusing on sustainability, public health, and community resilience in the face of climate change. We’ve prioritized these interconnected projects because the urgency of our climate crisis demands a comprehensive approach.
**Interviewer:** It seems the opposition is gearing up for a strong campaign. How do you plan to counter their strategies?
**Anne Hidalgo:** My approach has always been to engage with our citizens and focus on the issues that matter most to them. We must demonstrate the impacts of our policies on everyday Parisians and continue to advocate for a vision of a green and equitable city. I urge everyone to participate in the political discourse; it’s vital for democracy.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what legacy do you hope to leave behind as you approach the end of your second term?
**Anne Hidalgo:** I hope my legacy will reflect a Paris that is not only more environmentally aware but also one that prioritizes its residents’ quality of life. Investing in green spaces, affordable housing, and efficient public transport—this is the Paris I envisioned, and I trust that we have laid a strong foundation for future leaders to build upon.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mayor Hidalgo, for your insights and for your service to the city.
**Anne Hidalgo:** Thank you for having me; I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts.