Anne Hidalgo: “The success of the Olympic Games sweeps away the Trumpist attacks from the Parisian right”
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently praised the successes of the Summer Olympics, held this year in the French capital, saying that the event dispelled the controversies emanating from the Parisian right, particularly from Rachida Dati, whom she called a “Trumpist right.” According to the socialist mayor, the Games demonstrated that Paris is a city capable of transforming itself, becoming more peaceful, reducing pollution while preserving its heritage. In defending her record, Hidalgo emphasizes that the Olympics confirmed to everyone the beauty and dynamism of the capital.
A turning point for the capital and a response to criticism
This success, according to Hidalgo, has "caused to collapse like a house of cards" the criticisms made by certain members of the municipal opposition, convinced that the Games would only be a burden for the city. "During the Games, Parisians told me that they did not understand how they could have been made to believe that it would be hell," says the mayor. She denounces what she considers to be a series of false information relayed by the Parisian right, which, according to her, exploited the fears of the inhabitants.
At the end of her term and two years before the next municipal elections, Anne Hidalgo's political future remains uncertain. Several media outlets, including Le Canard enchaîné, have mentioned the possibility of her joining an environmental foundation in Brussels, founded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. However, she denies any imminent departure, saying that "the time has not yet come" to make a decision about a possible candidacy in 2026.
Urban transformation and controversial measures
The mayor of Paris continues to promote measures aimed at reducing the role of cars in the capital, such as the partial pedestrianization of certain emblematic squares, the project of a limited traffic zone in the center of Paris, or the speed limit on the ring road. While these initiatives have sparked controversy, they are part of a policy of reducing pollution and urban transformation that has been underway for several years. Hidalgo emphasizes that pollution in Paris has fallen by 40% since 2012, thanks in particular to the 40% reduction in car traffic. She advocates for these efforts to continue, emphasizing that air pollution causes approximately 2 deaths annually in Paris.
Despite the criticism, the mayor welcomes the progress of her "soft revolution" for Paris, citing the popularity of initiatives such as "school streets", pedestrian zones around schools, which are popular with a majority of Parisians. Rachida Dati and other members of the opposition, however, remain opposed to this reduction in the space granted to cars. However, for Hidalgo, these transformations are essential for the well-being of Parisians and must continue in the years to come.
