Anne Hidalgo announces her withdrawal from municipal politics in 2026 and endorses Rémi Féraud as her successor

In an interview published this Tuesday, November 26, in Le Monde, Anne Hidalgo confirmed a decision she has been contemplating for a long time: she will not run for a third term as Mayor of Paris. After twelve years at the helm of the Hôtel de Ville, the mayor will step down in March 2026, marking the end of a period characterized by profound transformations in the capital.

The end of speculation

Two months after the success of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, Anne Hidalgo has put an end to persistent rumors about her future. “This is a decision I made a long time ago. I have always believed that two terms are enough to bring about significant change,” she explained.

First elected in 2014 and overwhelmingly re-elected in 2020, Anne Hidalgo also made a foray onto the national stage during the 2022 presidential election. However, this bid ended in failure, with her receiving just 1.74% of the vote in the first round. Since then, her political future has been the subject of much speculation, particularly following her ambiguous remarks in early 2024, where she stated she was “not ruling anything out” regarding the municipal elections.

A designated successor: Rémi Féraud

For 2026, Anne Hidalgo has already thrown her support behind Rémi Féraud, a socialist senator and president of the Paris en commun group on the Paris City Council. “I know him well; I have appreciated him for a very long time. He is the one who can carry forward our legacy and reimagine a future for Paris. He has the solidity, seriousness, and ability to bring people together that are necessary,” she stated.

In the current municipal majority, composed of socialists, communists, and greens, several other ambitions have also surfaced. Emmanuel Grégoire, Hidalgo’s former first deputy and now a deputy in the Nouveau Front populaire, has already declared his candidacy. However, relations between the two have soured. “Emmanuel Grégoire chose to leave for the National Assembly to fight against the far right. You can’t run for everything at once,” remarked Anne Hidalgo.

PCF Senator Ian Brossat has also expressed his availability. However, Hidalgo hopes for a united front around Rémi Féraud in the first round. “I hope and wish that the greens and communists will rally behind his candidacy from the very first round of the municipal elections,” she said, echoing the PS-PCF-Green alliance formed in the first round of the 2020 elections.

An unwavering political stance

Anne Hidalgo remains steadfast in her opposition to La France insoumise, a party she categorically rules out collaborating with. “We are not at all aligned in terms of values, and their recent proposal to repeal the law on the glorification of terrorism demonstrates this clearly,” she declared.

This withdrawal from municipal politics marks the end of an era for Paris, but Anne Hidalgo intends to pass the baton with continuity in mind, hoping her successor will carry on her commitments to the capital.