Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has confirmed that she will not seek a third term in office, following a decade of leadership in the French capital.
In an interview with Le Monde published on Tuesday, the former Socialist presidential candidate, who has held the mayoral position since 2014, revealed that her decision was made some time ago. Hidalgo explained that she believes two terms are enough to effect meaningful change.
“I will not seek a third term. This decision has been made for a long time. I have always believed two terms are enough to carry out significant change,” Hidalgo stated. She also announced plans to support Senator Rémi Féraud as her successor, despite Féraud being relatively unknown in the public eye.
Hidalgo, 65, has been a central figure in Parisian politics since the early 2000s, first serving as Deputy Mayor under Bertrand Delanoë before taking over as mayor in 2014. During her tenure, she pushed for bold policies aimed at making Paris a greener city and transforming it into a “15-minute city,” where all essential services would be accessible within a short walk or bike ride. However, these policies, which included measures to reduce car traffic and expand cycling infrastructure, made her a polarizing figure, particularly among drivers.
Last week, Hidalgo called on the French government to approve a complete ban on SUVs in Paris.
