France’s Socialist Party managed to hold on to the municipal election jewel Paris. The new mayor following the popular Bertrand Delanoe is Anne Hidalgo.
A remarried mother of three, she was not even born in France, but in Spain.
A former national secretary for culture and media and labour inspector, she was Delanoe’s deputy.
The Socialists won the lion’s share of seats in Paris city council, ensuring her the top job.
After the results were in, she highlighted: “I am the first woman mayor of Paris.”
She drove home the feminine definitive article here, saying ‘la maire’.
“I realise what a challenge that represents. I will be the mayor of this city who never cheats — neither with her anger, ideals or honour. I will be mayor to all the women and men of Paris, without exception.”
Hidalgo, age 54, was well ahead of UMP candidate for mayor of Paris Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet. She was ahead in first-round voting, but then suffered from a ‘posh’ image.
Hidalgo has promised to create thousands of new social housing units and kindergarten places, as well as green spaces.
She called her win ‘a victory for a left loyal to its principles and effective at implementing them.’
