Hidalgo’s Low Result and the Socialist Setback in France

The historic outcome surrounding Anne Hidalgo and the Socialist Party marked a stark moment in the first round of the French presidential race. Voters across France watched as Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, received only a small share of support—about 2%—placing her near the bottom among twelve contenders for the Elysée. The result underscored a wider trend: fragmented support for traditional center-left leadership, and a shifting political landscape that benefited candidates like Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Emmanuel Macron. The evaluation of the campaign suggests Hidalgo’s strategy failed to resonate beyond a core base, contributing to a broader decline for the Socialists in national politics. (attribution: election coverage)