The Socialist Party mayor of Paris, a guest on franceinfo on Monday, defended her urban policy aimed at reducing car traffic, despite, she said, lobby pressure.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a guest on franceinfo on Monday, August 28, defended her choices in urban policy, and in particular her desire to reduce car traffic, a source of "pollution that kills . "
"Threats" from lobbies
The role of cars is shrinking in Paris. The mayor of the capital believes that the city was "behind" and that today, projects must be "accelerated," particularly "the bicycle plan . " "It makes us improve the public transport network," she added before defending the fight against pollution. "Pollution kills." Anne Hidalgo clarifies that she has not changed her mind, even though she has been "threatened ," she says, by diesel and automobile lobbies.
"I repeat, I prefer to be on the right side of history ," declared Anne Hidalgo.
Harshly criticized for her choices regarding mobility in a book entitled Notre-Drame de Paris , written by Airy Routier and Nadia Lebrun, to be published on August 30 by Albin Michel, Anne Hidalgo said she was not seeking unanimity. "The book is a damning document, a caricature," she added.
The prescription method is not the right one
Asked about the government's record, Anne Hidlago criticized the method used for the reform of the Labor Code . "Orders are not a mode of governance adapted to the modernity that we should be able to bring: relying on social partners, working while taking the time for these reforms ," declared the Socialist Party representative.
The mayor of Paris did not comment on the substance of the project under negotiation, preferring to "wait and see what the outcome is . " "Let's not make assumptions," she added.
Her position is identical on an overall assessment of Emmanuel Macron's presidency since his election. "It is difficult after four months to make an exhaustive and definitive assessment ," declared Anne Hidalgo, specifying that as mayor of Paris, she is "a partner of the State . " "I have many subjects on which I am working with the President of the Republic (...) I feel very free to give my point of view on each of the elements ," specified the mayor of Paris. "On the Olympic Games, we are together (...) On refugees and migrants, there is a word that the head of state gave me, I have no reason to question it. But I have a certain number of concerns."
Jean-Luc Mélenchon "stirs up"
Asked to comment on the state of the Socialist Party, Anne Hidalgo asked for "time" after the "blow to the head" in the presidential and then legislative elections, calling for "not to make French political life hysterical at the start of a five-year term ." The mayor of Paris declared that she was wary of "the violence of words," which can "produce violence in actions . "
Is she targeting Jean-Luc Mélenchon? "I am targeting those who use political discourse in such an aggressive way that there is no longer any room for dialogue ," replied Anne Hidalgo, adding that "Jean-Luc Mélenchon is one of those who stir up trouble." However, for the mayor of Paris, the last elections showed "a rejection by the French of something that stirs up trouble, that antagonizes."
