Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire Elected as New Mayor of Paris

Emmanuel Grégoire, a 48-year-old Socialist politician relatively unknown to most French citizens, has been elected mayor of Paris, succeeding fellow party member Anne Hidalgo who opted not to seek a third term.

In Sunday’s runoff vote, Grégoire secured over 50% of the ballots, defeating conservative challenger Rachida Dati, who received 41%, and hard-left candidate Sophia Chikirou, who garnered approximately 8%.

After claiming victory, Grégoire symbolically rode a city bicycle through Paris streets toward City Hall, reinforcing his commitment to environmentally-friendly policies for the French capital.

The Paris mayoral race was part of France’s second round of municipal elections, which showed clear gains for traditional left and right parties across the country. The far right notably secured a significant victory in Nice on the French Riviera.

Grégoire, though previously operating largely behind the scenes in French politics, brings substantial experience to his new role. He joined the Socialist party at age 24 in 2002 and began building his political career in Paris. After serving as chief of staff to former Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, he worked in the prime minister’s office under Socialist President François Hollande.

First elected to the Paris City Council in 2014, Grégoire has served as Hidalgo’s first deputy mayor since 2018, overseeing crucial portfolios including budget, urban planning, and public services. In 2024, he was elected to the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament.

“An advantage we have is that we know Parisians very well,” Grégoire told The Associated Press before the election. “I believe that in politics, it’s healthy when grassroots work pays off more than social media,” he added, in what appeared to be a jab at his rival Dati, known for her outspoken style and frequent television appearances.

In a personal revelation that resonated with voters, Grégoire recently disclosed that he had been a victim of sexual abuse between the ages of 9 and 10 during after-school activities at a municipal swimming pool. “I kept it hidden for decades,” he said in a radio interview last year. Child abuse became a significant topic in the Paris electoral campaign, with recent reports of alleged abuse in Paris public schools.

Politically, Grégoire has led a broad left-ecologist coalition of Socialists, Greens, and Communists but has distanced himself from Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s hard-left France Unbowed party. When Chikirou offered to join forces with Grégoire against Dati before the runoff, he declined, stating they do not share the same “values.”

Housing affordability in Paris has been central to Grégoire’s campaign. “Airbnb is my enemy,” he has repeatedly stated, expressing concern about neighborhoods being emptied of residents as apartments are converted to tourist accommodations. He has pledged to create 60,000 new social and affordable housing units during his term.

“We have the same problems in Paris as in New York, San Francisco, cities with which I have worked a lot on these issues,” Grégoire told the AP. “What happens if we don’t regulate? Speculation drives residents out.”

In line with his predecessor’s environmental initiatives, Grégoire has promised to expand cycling infrastructure throughout the city and continue efforts to clean up the River Seine. He also plans to address tourist overcrowding at popular attractions like the Louvre Museum and Montmartre by promoting less-visited sites.

Despite succeeding Hidalgo, Grégoire’s path to candidacy wasn’t without challenges. A dispute between the two in 2024 nearly derailed his bid. “Anne Hidalgo didn’t back me. She did everything she could to torpedo my candidacy. I am neither her candidate nor her heir,” Grégoire told Franceinfo last month.

However, after the Socialist party members selected him as their candidate, Hidalgo ultimately endorsed Grégoire. On Sunday evening, she welcomed him to City Hall with a hug and a rose, celebrating his “very, very beautiful victory” as Paris transitions to its new leadership.