The City of Paris defended Monday evening, in a press release, the trip to New Caledonia and Polynesia by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, criticized by the right-wing opposition who mocked the carbon footprint and the cost of this trip.
The trip of the socialist mayor, accompanied by her deputies for sports Pierre Rabadan and for overseas Jacques Martial, took place from October 16 to 22, according to the agenda transmitted a posteriori by the City, which until then had not not communicated officially on this subject.
Its aim, according to the town hall, was to work on three issues: the Nuit blanche, a cultural event which will be held in 2024 “under the symbol of overseas” ; “the climate emergency”Anne Hidalgo “having proposed to the mayors of New Caledonia and Polynesia to join the delegation of the International Association of French-speaking Mayors (AIMF), which she will lead as president during COP28 in Dubai” ; and the Olympic Games, the surfing event of which is to be held at the Teahupoo site in Tahiti.
But Anne Hidalgo did not go in person to the Olympic site, being represented by Pierre Rabadan, the town hall admitted on Monday.
“Private time” taken care of by the councilor
“At the request of the Polynesian president [du territoire, Moetai Brotherson]the mayor of Paris did not go to the site on Saturday, due to local tensions linked to the construction of a judges’ tower, an on-site meeting being planned for the same day by the Polynesian presidency.according to the press release.
“The mayor of Paris extended her official trip with private time entirely at her expense”and she returned on Sunday, November 5, paying for her return ticket out of her own pocket, adds the town hall.
The transport costs of the Parisian delegation, made up of six people (three elected officials and three collaborators) amounted to 40,955 euros, and the accommodation and catering costs to 18,545 euros, “in accordance with the practices in force in the three territorial public functions”according to the City.