Socialist Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo reelected in French local elections

She won election with the help of Greens and Left 

Socialist Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo reelected after three way fight on Sunday. She was favourite to win the elections.  She was declared winner in her reelection bid in Municipal elections. The round two of  municipal elections was postponed  in March due to the surge in  coronavirus cases. 

Hidalgo, a Socialist, largely beat conservative candidate Rachida Dati, according to estimates based on partial results. She was first elected as Paris mayor in 2014. Her reelection will allow her to oversee the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Hidalgo is backed by the Europe Ecology-The Greens party, which gained strong influence nationwide. She was also supported by far Left and Communists.  

She  made tackling climate change and pollution the key element of her election programme. After her victory was announced, Hidalgo, in charge at City Hall for the last six years, said voters had chosen to make Paris more “ecological, social and humanist."

“You have chosen hope, teamwork, a Paris that can breathe, that is better to live in, shows more solidarity and that leaves nobody to fall by the wayside,” she said in a brief speech.

In an election marked by the coronavirus, many people stayed away from polling stations, leading to an historic level of abstention.

The first round took place on 15 March, two days before France went into a strict two-month coronavirus lockdown. The second round, due to be held the following Sunday, was postponed.

Initial figures suggested only 40% of the 16.5 million in areas holding a second round turned out on Sunday to choose the mayors and councillors whose decisions affect their daily lives. Participation in the last local elections in 2014 was 52.4%.

At many Paris polling stations, protection methods including distancing marks on the ground and glass screens seemed hardly necessary given the trickle of voters. Many people criticised the timing of the elections which was the main reason of low turnout. 

                                                                            Rukhsana Manzoor Deputy Editor