Anne Hidalgo’s recent trip to New Caledonia and Tahiti has caused a lot of ink to flow. But here is an opinion which could well end the controversy definitively: that of the ethics commission, delivered this Friday. The latter affirms, according to a press release from the Paris City Hall, that the trips of the mayor, who was accompanied in particular by her deputies for Sports, Pierre Rabadan, and for Overseas, Jacques Martial, from October 16 to 22, are “ ethically regular.
This trip was intended in particular, according to the town hall, to discuss the Olympic Games, the surfing event of which is to be held at the Teahupoo site, in Tahiti. But Anne Hidalgo did not go to the site in person, being represented by Pierre Rabadan, the town hall admitted on Monday. Above all, the lack of communication about these trips fueled the suspicion of a trip fueled by personal interests, the city councilor’s daughter having moved to the region recently. Because Anne Hidalgo did not publish these photos on social networks, as she usually does.
“The City of Paris has not suffered any damage”
“The public part of the trip made by Madame Anne Hidalgo, in her capacity as Mayor of Paris, to New Caledonia and Polynesia from October 16 to 21, 2023 morning, is directly linked to the interests of the City of Paris, both in view of its objects as well as meetings with various authorities,” affirms the commission.
“It is noted that part of the program was not carried out by the Mayor of Paris but by Mr. Pierre Rabadan, in his capacity as Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge in particular of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, from October 21 afternoon. Thus, the City of Paris did not finance the personal and private activity of the Mayor of Paris with public funds and she did not suffer any damage,” the commission continues.
The ethics commission of the City of Paris, created in October 2022, modified in December 2022 and March 2023 by the Council of Paris, has a dual role of control and recommendation. In particular, it examines declarations of interest and declarations of assets of elected officials, but also travel declarations and annual declarations of invitations and gifts received during and in connection with their municipal mandate. It is made up of nine members, including Yves Charpenel, Honorary First Advocate General at the Court of Cassation, or Eliane Houlette, Honorary Financial Prosecutor.