An exclusive interview with Le Monde revealed that Anne Hidalgo, the Franco-Spanish mayor of Paris, would not seek a third term. Her decision leaves Paris at a crossroads as 2026 approaches, and questions about the city’s next leader begin to surface.
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Within politics, opinions diverge on Hidalgo’s imprint. Some colleagues look for a successor while others commend the work accomplished. The succession race is underway. In Parisian streets, residents begin to assess her legacy, which includes a greener and more bike-friendly city and efforts to make the Seine swimable. The capital aimed to be known as the 15-minute city, and its effort to revive the Seine as a clean river remains a notable chapter of urban policy.
The Controversial Pedestrian Streets: A Success
Like Ada Colau with her superblocks, Hidalgo faced criticism when she announced plans to pedestrianize more than 180 streets in Paris. The works, dust, and traffic headaches initially signaled a rocky road.
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Years later, those who now enjoy the pedestrian streets applaud the initiative. Less noise, fewer cars and more social fabric, says a resident of the 17th arrondissement. Legendre Street underwent a major transformation with more terraces, children playing after school, a small garden, and above all, fewer cars.
Not only the city streets, but the banks of the Seine and several bridges that connect the left and right banks were opened to pedestrians. Since then, dozens enjoy a traditional apéro after work or run along the river for sport.
In addition, car bans in central Paris were extended. Hidalgo restricted vehicle access to non-authorized cars in districts 1, 2, 3 and 4, known as Paris Centre. Fewer automobiles and more bicycles, because the plan includes bike lanes across the city.
She used the lockdown period to create about 1,000 km of bike lanes and 70,000 public bike parking spaces. The project stirred controversy, but many now view it with pride. About 11.5 percent of the population travels exclusively by bicycle, since it is faster and more convenient. For many, cycling has become a flexible option during frequent public transport strikes or aging metro lines.
Environmental Leadership
Her plan to reduce car traffic also includes expanding green spaces. Since taking office, more than 170,000 trees have been planted in Paris, and important places like Place de la République and Avenue Gambetta have been transformed into meeting areas for locals.
Additionally, there is an ambitious project to bury the train tracks along rue de Rome in Batignolles and build a green esplanade above them with parks and leisure spaces. The project carries a price tag of around 200 million euros, a hurdle that makes many doubt its realization.
“15-Minute City”
The idea of a 15-minute city was ambitious. Hidalgo aimed to connect bike lanes with public transport and deliver a city where everything is within a quarter of an hour from home, reducing long commutes.
Yet not all neighborhoods benefited, and in recent years transport strikes have repeatedly disrupted daily life in Paris. As a result, more metro lines have become automated and continue to operate despite protests.
Nevertheless, a global analysis published in Nature Cities places Paris and Milan among the cities closest to achieving the urban planning objective.
Hidalgo’s Unfulfilled Challenge
Paris has undergone a remarkable process of gentrification. It is increasingly difficult for middle and lower classes to find affordable housing. The city remains a magnet for the wealthy, tourists, and expatriates, while many locals consider leaving because a basic coffee can cost five to six euros and living costs keep rising.
According to INSEE, Paris has lost about 13,000 residents in the last year, and in five years the count has surpassed 50,000. This trend affects businesses and pushes workers to seek telework options to balance life outside the capital.
Hidalgo promised policies to expand social housing and regulate the real estate market to ease Paris’s housing crisis. Yet those measures did not fully alleviate the major housing problems. In 2024 the price per square meter reached around 11,000 euros.
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For the French, Anne Hidalgo is the socialist mayor who sought to make Paris more accessible and friendly, while for Spanish expatriates she remains the Spaniard who led one of the world’s most beautiful yet challenging cities.