Fresh from her recent success in banning electric scooters for rent, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is now targeting SUVs on the city streets. As part of her ambitious plan to make Paris more environmentally friendly, she has announced another city-wide referendum scheduled for February. This referendum will decide whether to increase parking fees for SUVs, commonly known as sports utility vehicles.
Drawing inspiration from the previous e-scooter referendum in April, Mayor Hidalgo appears confident of securing another victory. The turnout for the e-scooter referendum was minimal, with a majority of voters expressing their disdain for e-scooters. For the upcoming SUV referendum, Hidalgo assures that residents within the city limits of Paris will not be affected, as SUV ownership within the city’s 20 districts is relatively low.
Opposition to higher parking fees is expected from suburbanites who commute to Paris for work or leisure in their SUVs. However, since they won’t be eligible to vote, the impact on the referendum is likely to be minimal.
Critics suggest that Hidalgo’s push against SUVs may be a strategic move to divert attention from recent controversies. Opposition members in Paris City Hall question her two-week trip to New Caledonia and French Polynesia in October. While the first half of the trip was supposedly official, concerns arise over her extended stay to visit her daughter on the Polynesian island of Raiatea.
The mayor’s absence during the aftermath of the October 7 attacks in Israel has fueled further criticism. The opposition questions the appropriateness of such a trip and emphasizes the potential impact on Paris in the face of international tensions.
In response, the mayor’s office strongly denies any wrongdoing, stating that extending official visits for personal reasons is a common practice. They clarify that Hidalgo personally covered the expenses for the additional stay and return airfare.
Despite the official aims of the visit, paying respects at a cemetery in New Caledonia and holding meetings in French Polynesia, controversies surround the trip. Local protests in French Polynesia disrupted plans to view the Olympic surf spot at Teahupo’o, intended for use in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Back in Paris, right-wing members of the Paris Assembly criticize the mayor’s overseas visit, citing a cost of just under €60,000 (£52,300). The opposition questions the necessity of her visit to the Olympic site, arguing that relevant sports authorities had already inspected it. They also highlight the environmental concerns of such long-distance travel in contrast to promoting eco-friendly measures within Paris.
As debates unfold, the opposition emphasizes the apparent incongruity of Mayor Hidalgo’s overseas journey while advocating for environmental responsibility at home.
