“In view of the elements available to the ethics commission, it is considered that Anne Hidalgo made a professional trip to New Caledonia and Polynesia financed by the Parisian community from October 16 to 21, 2023 morning, as well as a trip privately from the afternoon of October 21 to November 5, 2023, covered by personal funds, these trips are ethically regular,” the commission indicated according to a press release from the City.
The trip of Ms. Hidalgo, accompanied by her deputies for Sports Pierre Rabadan and Overseas Jacques Martial, took place from October 16 to 22, according to the agenda sent Monday, a posteriori, by the City, which had not until there has been no official communication on this subject. Its particular aim, according to the town hall, was to evoke the Olympic Games, the surfing event of which must be held at the Teahupoo site in Tahiti.
“The City of Paris did not finance the personal and private activity of the mayor with public funds”
But the socialist mayor did not go in person to this site, being represented by Pierre Rabadan, the town hall acknowledged in the press release on Monday, explaining that this decision had been taken “at the request of the Polynesian president” Moetai Brotherson, due to “local tensions”.
“It is noted that part of the program was not carried out by the mayor of Paris but by Pierre Rabadan, in his capacity as deputy (…) in charge in particular of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, from the 21 October afternoon. Thus, the City of Paris did not finance the personal and private activity of the Mayor of Paris with public funds and did not suffer any harm,” assures the Ethics Commission.
A fault according to the opposition
The Changer Paris group of Republican, centrist and independent elected officials at the town hall was surprised in a press release that this commission “whose members are appointed by the mayor (…), waited for her return to deliberate, while its main function is to prevent any offense or conflict of interest”.
“Beyond ethical considerations, (…) Ms. (Anne) Hidalgo left the city she is responsible for for three weeks, this is a mistake towards Paris,” said Pierre-Yves Bournazel, Paris opposition councilor (Horizons).