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On Sunday March 30, 2014 history was made in Paris, France; Anne Hidalgo was elected as the first female mayor of Paris. Hidalgo beat her opponent, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet (NKM), by a ten percent margin. The final votes were 54.5 percent Hidalgo and 45.5 percent to NKM. Hidalgos election was not only a victory for women on a political scale, but also for the Socialists. The Party suffered losses elsewhere in the country.
As the first female mayor of Paris Hidalgo joins the exclusive club of women who have taken charge of major metropolitan cities across the globe. Her counterparts include Ana Botella of Madrid, Spain, Carolina Toha or Santiago, Chile, and Patricia de Lille of Cape Town, South Africa.
Hidalgo was born in Spain, but was raised in the working class suburb of Lyon where she embodied the Parisian lifestyle. She is known for quoting the writer Sacha Guitry saying, Being a Parisian is not about being born in Paris, it is about being reborn there. She began her career as a works inspector and soon transitioned into the political realm as the advisor to Labor Minister Martine Aubry. Hidalgo joined the Socialist Party in her mid-thirties and soon earned a reputation for integrity and honesty and was known for her modest style.
Hidalgos run in office is forecast to be one of positive change and influence in Paris. Her supports claim she will be a safe pair of handsfor a city fighting to keep its place in the Premier League of world capitals. Hidalgos focus on major investment in housing, transportation, and green spaces is sure to propel Paris forward and improve life for all Parisians.
It is important to recognize the accomplishments of women like Anne Hidalgo, and her counterparts across the globe. These women are pursuing their dreams and breaking through societal norms along the way. They exemplify the feminine spirit and a desire to achieve more for themselves and the individuals they represent locally, nationally, and internationally.