Macron and Hidalgo met face to face, against a backdrop of reconciliation

Global warming between Emmanuel Macron and Anne Hidalgo. The President of the Republic and the mayor of Paris met face to face on Tuesday October 8 at the Élysée, according to information from Parisian confirmed at Figaro. A turning point after years of execrable relations, but which have improved significantly since this summer’s Olympic Games in the capital.

The interview took placeat the request of the president», Explains those around Anne Hidalgo. “They discussed the Olympics and a certain number of Parisian subjects.» The Élysée also confirms the meeting. “It was first of all an interview on the legacy of the Olympic Games, but which also made it possible to address subjects on which the State and the city have joint responsibility.“, they say at the presidency. Among the points of friction: the limitation of the ring road to 50 km/h, decided by Anne Hidalgo, or the redevelopments of several Parisian squares such as the Trocadéro, the Étoile or the Concorde.

Long-standing disagreement

Between Emmanuel Macron and Anne Hidalgo, the disagreement dates back to the time when the first was Minister of the Economy under François Hollande and wanted to relax the rules for working on Sundays. After a first five-year term marked by regular tensions, the mayor of Paris presented herself in the 2022 presidential election under the colors of the Socialist Party, collecting the tiny score of 1.75%. The preparation for the Olympics had also given rise to clashes. “We’re not going to be ready» on transport, had notably launched Anne Hidalgo to target the State in November 2023, arousing the fury of the presidential camp.

«In recent months, we have felt signs of consideration from the President of the Republicwe note today in Anne Hidalgo’s entourage. They had not seen each other bilaterally since 2017. At the time, it was a protocol meeting, after his election.» Anne Hidalgo then gave a rather frosty welcome to the new head of state, who went to town hall on the day of his inauguration, in accordance with republican tradition.