Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo Won't Seek Reelection

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced she will not seek reelection in 2026, concluding her historic tenure as the city's first female mayor since 2014. In an interview with Le Monde, Hidalgo emphasized her decision was made long ago and aimed to ensure a smooth transition, endorsing Senator Rémi Féraud as her preferred successor. Throughout her time in office, Hidalgo implemented significant policies focused on reducing car traffic and promoting greener urban spaces, while navigating challenges such as Islamist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite her departure from the mayoral race, she plans to remain politically active and support the development of a social-democratic and ecological political force alongside Raphaël Glucksmann. Hidalgo's tenure has seen both popular success and controversy, particularly regarding her environmental initiatives and their impact on Parisian traffic. Her decision comes after securing a historically low result for the Socialist Party in the 2022 presidential elections, where she garnered only 1.74% of the vote.