Paris Mayor Seizes Olympic Success to Boost Image Ahead of Elections
- Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, is utilizing the triumph of the 33rd Olympiad to enhance her public image before the upcoming 2026 municipal elections.
- The move is seen as a strategic effort to gain support from constituents and boost her chances for re-election.
- By associating herself with the success of the Olympics, Hidalgo aims to strengthen her political position and appeal to voters.
As the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris approach, Mayor Anne Hidalgo is leveraging the event's success to enhance her public image, particularly in light of previous criticisms regarding the city's cleanliness, public transport, and safety. The Olympics, which commence on July 26, have so far overshadowed the controversies that plagued the lead-up to the games, allowing Hidalgo to bask in the positive atmosphere surrounding the event. A significant milestone for Hidalgo was her symbolic swim in the Seine River on July 17, which met European cleanliness standards after a €1.4 billion cleanup effort. This achievement has transformed the Seine into a venue for Olympic triathlon and marathon swimming competitions, silencing skeptics who doubted the feasibility of such a project. However, her political rival, Culture Minister Rachida Dati, criticized the high costs associated with the river's restoration. In interviews with Le Monde, Hidalgo expressed confidence that the Olympics have diminished the influence of far-right rhetoric in France. She highlighted the games and the opening ceremony as pivotal moments that countered extremist narratives, particularly those propagated by political opponents like Jordan Bardella, who has made controversial statements regarding dual nationality in government roles. Looking ahead, Hidalgo appears to be positioning herself for a potential third term as Paris mayor in the 2026 municipal elections. She emphasizes the need for left-wing parties to harness the positive sentiment generated by the Olympics, urging a collective understanding of their political strength in the face of populist challenges.