The entourage of the candidate, in difficulty in the polls where she is given between 4 and 7% of the vote intentions, tries in recent weeks to better underline the international stature that she has forged as mayor of Paris.

Friday during a round table at the Maison de la Mutualité in Paris on the theme of "well-being", at the center of a report by European Social Democrats published this week, she benefited from the support of Spanish heads of government and Portuguese - symbols of a socialism still capable of winning in Europe after several years of rout.

All three pleaded for social democracy, which is based on "compromise, listening", according to the President of the Spanish government Pedro Sanchez.

"The solutions are on the side of social democracy," said Anne Hidalgo.

Basically, "it brings first the conviction that faced with the crisis, we must always focus on social support and protection" of the most vulnerable, she explained.

But it also praised social democracy as a "modern method" in form: unlike Emmanuel Macron, a "Jupiter who decides everything, all alone", "social democracy is based on movements of society, unions, social dialogue, local authorities ".

"What is difficult in French political discourse is that the term social democracy has been fought, including by the left," regretted Ms. Hidalgo.

"The Social Democrats are the left which reforms, which transforms and allows democracy to advance," said Pedro Sanchez.

"This is why we are expecting you at the European Council next year", in the event of election as President of the Republic, he told the Parisian councilor.

His Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa, for his part, warned that the Social Democrats should not be afraid to warn citizens that "change is expensive", in particular the change towards a greener economy.

Hence the need for heavy European investments, unlike "austerity", and binding rules for companies, he said.

© 2021 AFP