Paris : Mayor Anne Hidalgo has larger ambitions for the future, she said on Sunday as she announced plans to run for Mayor Anne Hidalgo, reports dpa international.
Speaking in the northern city of Rouen, Hidalgo said she was going to run on the behalf of the country’s children: “I want all French children to have the same chance that I have also had.”
The 62-year-old socialist was born to working class parents in Spain. She has been Paris’ mayor since 2014.
During her time in office, she has earned a reputation as a champion for more environmental protection, expanding bicycle lanes and introducing 30 kilometre per hour speed limits almost everywhere in the city.
In her speech, Hidalgo said a guiding principle of her potential term would be respect for the planet and human dignity.
She held out the prospect of wage increases for teachers, nurses, police officers and firefighters. She accused the incumbent president, Emmanuel Macron, of having divided society.
France’s next presidential elections are scheduled for April 10. According to recent polls, Hidalgo would garner around 8 per cent of votes.
The main contenders are expected to be Macron and right-wing populist Marine Le Pen from the far-right opposition party National Rally (RN).
Current polling suggests voters will be divided between Le Pen and Macron in the key second round of voting, due be in May 2022.
