Anne Hidalgo

Mayor of Paris 

Anne Hidalgo is a major figure in French and European politics. Elected Mayor of Paris in 2014 and re-elected in 2020, she is the first woman to lead the French capital in its more than 2,000-year history. Her commitment to ecological transition, social inclusion, and urban democracy make her a key figure on the international stage.

 

Born in San Fernando, Spain, on June 19, 1959, she arrived in France with her family at the age of two, fleeing the Franco dictatorship. This journey forged her deep attachment to French republican values: equality, social justice, and emancipation. A lawyer by training, she began her career as a labor inspector before joining several ministerial offices under Lionel Jospin and Martine Aubry, where she specialized in issues of professional equality and social rights.

 

In 2001, she became deputy mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë, before succeeding him in 2014. This shift was historic: for the first time, a woman took the helm of the French capital. Re-elected in 2020, she pursued her ambition to make Paris a greener, more breathable, and more united city, despite a context marked by social and health crises.

During his term, Paris established itself as an urban laboratory. The pedestrianization of the banks of the Seine, the expansion of cycle paths, the greening of public spaces, and the proactive social housing policy illustrate his vision of a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive city.

Since becoming mayor, Anne Hidalgo has hosted the IMPACT² Summit every year at Paris City Hall. This event has become a symbol of the alliance between social innovation, the impact economy, and civic engagement. By once again opening its doors to the 12th edition of the event, she reaffirms her commitment to these struggles: building a more just, sustainable, and democratic society.