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In Paris Campaign, Left and Right Have One Thing in Common In Paris Campaign, Left and Right Have One Thing in Common
(6 months later)
PARIS — If cities had genders, Paris would almost surely be a woman. So much about it seems feminine: the sensuous curves of the Seine around which it is built, the ubiquitous concern for the cut of a coat, the elegance of its cityscape. And now, Paris is on the eve of electing its first female mayor. PARIS — If cities had genders, Paris would almost surely be a woman. So much about it seems feminine: the sensuous curves of the Seine around which it is built, the ubiquitous concern for the cut of a coat, the elegance of its cityscape. And now, Paris is on the eve of electing its first female mayor.
The two leading candidates are Anne Hidalgo, 54, and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, 40: both women, both with ambitious plans for Paris, both with government experience, and both willing to fight for a job that has often been a steppingstone to higher office.The two leading candidates are Anne Hidalgo, 54, and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, 40: both women, both with ambitious plans for Paris, both with government experience, and both willing to fight for a job that has often been a steppingstone to higher office.
The first round of municipal elections nationwide will be held Sunday, with a runoff a week later in places where no candidate has won a majority.The first round of municipal elections nationwide will be held Sunday, with a runoff a week later in places where no candidate has won a majority.
“This is, after all, the conquest of Paris — this is a symbol,” said Mariette Sineau, a political scientist at Sciences Po who has written a book on women and power in France. “We are going to see a woman in this post, and this will make things move.”“This is, after all, the conquest of Paris — this is a symbol,” said Mariette Sineau, a political scientist at Sciences Po who has written a book on women and power in France. “We are going to see a woman in this post, and this will make things move.”
The candidates have criticized each other’s ideas, but many of their differences are more about style than substance.The candidates have criticized each other’s ideas, but many of their differences are more about style than substance.
Early in the campaign, a member of Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet’s team was quoted as saying the race was between “a star and a concierge.”Early in the campaign, a member of Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet’s team was quoted as saying the race was between “a star and a concierge.”
Ms. Hidalgo retorted, “Being mayor of Paris is to love the concierges and the stars, because I know that the concierges are the stars of our daily life.”Ms. Hidalgo retorted, “Being mayor of Paris is to love the concierges and the stars, because I know that the concierges are the stars of our daily life.”
Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet, one of the few prominent women in the conservative Union for a Popular Movement party, has a glamorous air and intense intelligence. She comes from a well-heeled family with deep roots in France and Polish ancestry.Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet, one of the few prominent women in the conservative Union for a Popular Movement party, has a glamorous air and intense intelligence. She comes from a well-heeled family with deep roots in France and Polish ancestry.
Ms. Hidalgo, of the Socialist Party, has been the first deputy to the current mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, for 13 years. She came to France from Spain as a child, has an immigrant’s passion for her adopted country and comes off as more down to earth.Ms. Hidalgo, of the Socialist Party, has been the first deputy to the current mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, for 13 years. She came to France from Spain as a child, has an immigrant’s passion for her adopted country and comes off as more down to earth.
While Ms. Hidalgo is leading in the polls, analysts expect a runoff. The French do not vote directly for mayoral candidates but for City Council members, who then elect the mayor.While Ms. Hidalgo is leading in the polls, analysts expect a runoff. The French do not vote directly for mayoral candidates but for City Council members, who then elect the mayor.
Each woman sees herself as the inheritor of the Paris created by Mr. Delanoë, who left a visible stamp on the city through popular programs to share bicycles and electric cars, temporary beaches on the Seine and the reclamation of green space. Although Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet is from the opposing party, she told reporters she would continue many of Mr. Delanoë’s policies while also writing “a new page.”Each woman sees herself as the inheritor of the Paris created by Mr. Delanoë, who left a visible stamp on the city through popular programs to share bicycles and electric cars, temporary beaches on the Seine and the reclamation of green space. Although Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet is from the opposing party, she told reporters she would continue many of Mr. Delanoë’s policies while also writing “a new page.”
Ms. Hidalgo, however, as one of Mr. Delanoë’s deputies, can explicitly claim to be inheriting his mantle.Ms. Hidalgo, however, as one of Mr. Delanoë’s deputies, can explicitly claim to be inheriting his mantle.
The candidates “represent a new generation of women in politics,” said Marie-Ève Malouines, chief political editor at Radio France Info, who wrote a book on the race. Earlier generations “tried to adopt the codes of men,” she said, but Ms. Hidalgo and Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet have kept their “female attributes.”The candidates “represent a new generation of women in politics,” said Marie-Ève Malouines, chief political editor at Radio France Info, who wrote a book on the race. Earlier generations “tried to adopt the codes of men,” she said, but Ms. Hidalgo and Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet have kept their “female attributes.”
Both mix with ordinary Parisians and seem eager to emphasize that they, too, live in the city. Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet, clad in jeans or in fashionable jackets, pants and boots, sets up tables near subway stops and puts out soda and juice to serve to passers-by as she and her supporters buttonhole them.Both mix with ordinary Parisians and seem eager to emphasize that they, too, live in the city. Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet, clad in jeans or in fashionable jackets, pants and boots, sets up tables near subway stops and puts out soda and juice to serve to passers-by as she and her supporters buttonhole them.
Ms. Hidalgo, often more conservatively dressed, has a penchant for going to outdoor markets to shake hands with voters as they buy salad and cheese.Ms. Hidalgo, often more conservatively dressed, has a penchant for going to outdoor markets to shake hands with voters as they buy salad and cheese.
Their resolute informality appears to be partly an effort to reach a disaffected electorate. Support for President François Hollande, a Socialist, is at a historic low, and the U.M.P., led by Nicolas Sarkozy when he was president, is besieged by scandals. Nationwide, the most gains in the municipal elections are likely to go to the far-right National Front, which promotes itself as the only alternative to politics as usual.Their resolute informality appears to be partly an effort to reach a disaffected electorate. Support for President François Hollande, a Socialist, is at a historic low, and the U.M.P., led by Nicolas Sarkozy when he was president, is besieged by scandals. Nationwide, the most gains in the municipal elections are likely to go to the far-right National Front, which promotes itself as the only alternative to politics as usual.
The “I’m just an ordinary Parisian” image fits Ms. Hidalgo a bit better than Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet, who is from an affluent family on the Left Bank of the Seine and can seem as though she is trying too hard. She famously fumbled when a French reporter asked her the price of a subway ticket, though she had waxed poetic in an interview with Elle magazine about the “incredible encounters” and “moments of grace” offered by riding the subway.The “I’m just an ordinary Parisian” image fits Ms. Hidalgo a bit better than Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet, who is from an affluent family on the Left Bank of the Seine and can seem as though she is trying too hard. She famously fumbled when a French reporter asked her the price of a subway ticket, though she had waxed poetic in an interview with Elle magazine about the “incredible encounters” and “moments of grace” offered by riding the subway.
But she can also be eloquent. At a recent rally she told supporters: “A city that looks like a museum, it’s beautiful, but Parisians deserve better. They must have the past, but they must also be able to seize the future.”But she can also be eloquent. At a recent rally she told supporters: “A city that looks like a museum, it’s beautiful, but Parisians deserve better. They must have the past, but they must also be able to seize the future.”
Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet was one of the relatively few women at the time to graduate from the École Polytechnique, one of France’s most competitive universities. Aides who worked with her in the National Assembly recalled Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet’s bringing her son to work days after his birth and typing with one hand while feeding him with the other.Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet was one of the relatively few women at the time to graduate from the École Polytechnique, one of France’s most competitive universities. Aides who worked with her in the National Assembly recalled Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet’s bringing her son to work days after his birth and typing with one hand while feeding him with the other.
Ms. Hidalgo has more working-class roots and became a French citizen as a teenager, embracing the republican ideal. As a labor inspector she worked closely with unions, in a position widely viewed as that of a functionary, while making her way up within the Socialist Party. She focused on gender equality and then infrastructure. Part of her mayoral plan is to increase low-income housing.Ms. Hidalgo has more working-class roots and became a French citizen as a teenager, embracing the republican ideal. As a labor inspector she worked closely with unions, in a position widely viewed as that of a functionary, while making her way up within the Socialist Party. She focused on gender equality and then infrastructure. Part of her mayoral plan is to increase low-income housing.
She can come across as a technocrat, able to hold forth on almost any question of city governance, but she also has an obvious enthusiasm for her adopted country and city.She can come across as a technocrat, able to hold forth on almost any question of city governance, but she also has an obvious enthusiasm for her adopted country and city.
“I want to make Paris an open city that is nourished by people’s differences,” she recently told a crowd.“I want to make Paris an open city that is nourished by people’s differences,” she recently told a crowd.
Ms. Hidalgo appears to be focused on governing Paris, while Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet has long-range ambitions. She is often cited as a potential presidential candidate in 2017 and wants to shake up the old-boy network that dominates right-wing politics in Paris, said Michaël Darmon, chief political editor at the news network i-Télé.Ms. Hidalgo appears to be focused on governing Paris, while Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet has long-range ambitions. She is often cited as a potential presidential candidate in 2017 and wants to shake up the old-boy network that dominates right-wing politics in Paris, said Michaël Darmon, chief political editor at the news network i-Télé.
If nothing else, the race has helped to underscore that women can compete for political offices by talking mostly about the issues.If nothing else, the race has helped to underscore that women can compete for political offices by talking mostly about the issues.
“The adage which says that women do politics differently is wrong,” Mr. Darmon said. “Power has no gender.”“The adage which says that women do politics differently is wrong,” Mr. Darmon said. “Power has no gender.”