Municipal in France: tense debate between the three candidates for mayor of Paris

From left to right, Rachida Dati, Anne Hidalgo and Agnès Buzyn during the first debate before the second round of municipal elections on France 3, June 17, 2020. Thomas SAMSON / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

Anne Hidalgo, Rachida Dati and Agnès Buzyn met on Wednesday evening June 17 for their first televised debate on the campaign for the second round of municipal elections in Paris organized by Franceinfo and France 3 Ile-de-France. For an hour, the three candidates who came out on top in the first round tried to make their arguments in a sometimes tense atmosphere.

Publicity

Read more

Agnes Buzyn had no choice. Third in the first round, far behind Anne Hidalgo and Rachida Dati, weighed down by her statements on the management of the Covid-19, the candidate La République en Marche (LaREM) had to attack to try to exist, first against the outgoing mayor socialist. "  The ecology policy of the past six years is a facade ecology, it is a communication ecology  ", scraps the ex-Keeper of the Seals.

“  I am very happy to hear a very committed speech on climate change and I would have loved if your allies, the district mayors of the 9th, 5th… for example did not oppose a strong measure: pedestrianization from the banks of the Seine. I would have loved it! Replied the outgoing mayor of Paris.

►Read also: Municipal elections: what challenges for Paris?

Returned to the ropes with irony by Anne Hidalgo, Agnès Buzyn was not spared either by Rachida Dati. "  If you want, we can talk about the Covid, we can talk about the health crisis, we can talk about your summons to justice  ", replied the candidate Les Républicains (LR) to the former Minister of Health who pointed its lack of appetite for ecology.

The real duel took place between Anne Hidalgo and Rachida Dati, with as stake, the assessment of the outgoing mayor. The reelected mayor of the 7th arrondissement attacks, Anne Hidalgo responds. “  All these residents of social housing, they are disgusted: no hot water, no water at all, the water falling from the ceiling, lists the candidate on the right. These people, thousands of Parisians who no longer vote. "

"  Madame Dati voted against all the construction of new low-cost housing,  " replies Anne Hidalgo.

An uncompromising and unsurprising fist fight. Return match on June 24 for a final debate before the June 28 election . Anne Hidalgo came first in the first round on March 15 with 29.3% of the vote, ahead of the candidate Les Républicains Rachida Dati (22.7%) and the candidate LaREM Agnès Buzyn (17.3%).

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • 2020 municipal elections
  • France
  • Paris
  • French politics

On the same subject

Analysis

Municipal elections: what challenges for Paris?

Municipal 2020: alliances and rapprochements multiply as the second round approaches

Municipal in Paris: Agnès Buzyn "determined" to continue