It was no secret. But since rumors of a “deal” with the President of the Republic were swirling (denied by Emmanuel Macron), things had to be clarified. Yes, Rachida Dati will indeed be a candidate for Paris City Hall in 2026, the only unknown being knowing under what label. The new Minister of Culture and still leader of the Parisian opposition confirmed on RTL that his “objective is Paris”. “It’s in three years. Of course, I’ve always said it. »
Indeed, the mayor of the 7th arrondissement has never hidden it. “With me in 2026 #Paris will once again become a welcoming city for families”, tweeted Rachida Dati in March 2023. “My fight is Paris”, she said last year on the same radio, criticizing “lawless areas, minors who prostitute themselves for five euros”. “This is also the Parisian reality, and I will change that in 2026,” she added. “My fight is #Paris. […] The 2026 election will be a societal choice and a national issue,” she said again. in a tweet a few weeks later. “My horizon is Paris,” she also said the year before, this time at Point. It couldn’t be clearer.
Favorable polls
In 2020, the former Minister of Justice lost in the second round, with 34% of the votes against 48% for the elected socialist. But this time, some polls place her above Anne Hidalgo. As this OpinionWay survey from July 2023 where Dati is at the head of the personalities who would make “a good mayor of Paris”, with 49% of favorable intentions (compared to 32% for Hidalgo).
“If we want to win, we must learn the lessons of 2020. We lost because Agnès Buzyn’s lists [candidate Renaissance] remained in the second round. Particularly in the swing districts of the 12th and 14th. If Dati’s entry into government allows us to broaden the base, it’s rather intelligent,” commented Friday to 20 minutes David Alphand, vice-president of the Changer Paris group. “The Changer Paris group is a group that brings people together beyond LR. The objective of this ministry is to make it a force to attack 2026 with legitimacy”, indicates today to 20 minutes the group’s spokesperson, Aurélien Véron.
As for his opponents, we welcome the news freshly: “Barely named, no vision on Culture outlined, and already a candidate for an election. Rachida Dati’s only ambition is herself. Culture is not a stepping stone”, tweet the First Deputy of Anne Hidalgo. “In fact Rachida Dati is not Minister of #culture, she is Minister of #candidacy…. “, ironically Senator from Paris Colombe Brossel (PS).