FILE PHOTO: Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo arrives to attend the 19th Francophonie Summit of French-speaking nations, at the Cite internationale de la langue francaise, in the castle of Villers-Cotterets, France, October 4, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
PARIS (Reuters) - Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on Tuesday she will not seek a third term in 2026, ending her tenure as the first woman to lead the French capital.
"I will not run for a third term. This is a decision I made a long time ago," Hidalgo told French newspaper Le Monde in an interview published on Tuesday.
The Socialist mayor, who has held office since 2014, said she wanted to announce her decision early to allow for a smooth transition. She endorsed Senator Remi Feraud as her preferred successor.
Hidalgo, 65, has overseen significant changes in Paris, including controversial measures to reduce car traffic and increase bike lanes. Her tenure has been marked by challenges including Islamist attacks, the Notre-Dame fire, the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the 2024 Olympic Summer Games.
"Out of respect for Parisians, I wanted to announce it early enough and at a time that allows for a smooth handover," Hidalgo said, adding that she intends to remain politically active after 2026.
(Reporting by Camille Raynaud, writing by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
