Unlike Rachida Dati, Florence Berthout is not asking that justice take up the matter but rather that this type of location be “supervised”, that the mayor of Paris communicate her agenda “like any politician who leaves “.
“There is unease”, agrees Tuesday, November 14 on franceinfo Florence Berthout, mayor (Horizons) of the 5th arrondissement of Paris, and councilor of the capital, a few hours before the opening of the Paris Council. The question of the trip of the mayor, Anne Hidalgo, to New Caledonia and Polynesia, from October 16 to November 5, will be discussed. Anne Hidalgo went overseas from October 16 to 21, as part of her duties, before a private trip, from October 21 to November 5, which she financed personally.
“I am mayor and there is not a day when people do not talk to me about this trip,” says Florence Berthout. The elected official of the 5th arrondissement denounces “lack of transparency” and points “motivation: this is what is most shocking. Frankly, is there a direct link between the interests of the City and a trip which is in fact a visit to a surf site [le spot de Teahupoo, choisi pour les JO de Paris 2024] ?” where finally Anne Hidalgo was represented by her deputy, questions the elected official. Florence Berthout recalls that in addition, the site in question “arouses strong local opposition in the area of biodiversity, which Anne Hidalgo is supposed to defend”.
“A moral problem”
“What raises the issue,” says the mayor of the 5th arrondissement, “is the motivation, the cost, the context and the duration.” On this subject, the Ethics Commission of the City of Paris considers that no public funds were used for private purposes and that this trip was “ethically regular”. 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, affirms the City. However, “the cost, in a difficult period for Parisians, can seem exorbitant, as can the accompanying delegation”, replies Florence Berthout.
The mayor of the 5th arrondissement recognizes that she has “nothing in particular to say about this, it is not illegal, but it is a problem of a moral nature and a lack of supervision of travel”. According to Florence Berthout, “we need to regulate all of this, this will avoid futile controversies in the future that fall on everyone.” In contrast to Rachida Dati, president (LR) of the opposition group Changer Paris, and mayor of the 7th arrondissement, who asks “justice to seize it”, Florence Berthout does not have this request, but demands that “the mayor gives us information when she goes abroad: we must have the mayor’s agenda like any politician or city councilor who leaves, in connection with the mission we carry out.”