Bertrand Delanoë facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bertrand Delanoë
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Delanoë in 2008
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| Mayor of Paris | |
| In office 25 March 2001 – 5 April 2014 |
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| Deputy | Anne Hidalgo |
| Preceded by | Jean Tiberi |
| Succeeded by | Anne Hidalgo |
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 24 September 1995 – 27 March 2001 |
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| Constituency | Paris |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 21 June 1981 – 1 April 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Joël Le Tac |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | Paris's 26th constituency |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 May 1950 Tunis, French Tunisia |
| Nationality | French |
| Political party | Socialist Party |
| Alma mater | University of Toulouse |
| Signature |  |
Bertrand Delanoë (born 30 May 1950) is a French politician who is now retired. He was the Mayor of Paris from 2001 to 2014. He was a member of the Socialist Party. Before becoming mayor, he served in the National Assembly from 1981 to 1986 and the Senate from 1995 to 2001.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bertrand Delanoë was born on May 30, 1950, in Tunis. At that time, Tunis was a French protectorate, meaning France had control over it. His mother was French, and his father was French-Tunisian. His father worked as a land surveyor, and his mother was a nurse.
When he was six years old, Delanoë joined a Christian singing group called "Petits Chanteurs des Sables." At age 11, he saw the Bizerte crisis, a conflict between France and newly independent Tunisia. After Tunisia became independent, Delanoë and his family moved back to France. His family later separated, and he lived with his mother in Rodez. After finishing school, he studied law at the University of Toulouse. He also has a diploma in economics.
Political Career
Starting in Politics
Delanoë began his political journey at 23. He became the secretary of the Socialist Party group in Aveyron.
In 1977, he was first elected to the Council of Paris. This council helps run the city. By 1993, he was leading the Socialist Party in Paris. In 1995, he was elected to the Senate, which is part of the French Parliament. There, he worked as a secretary for the committee that dealt with foreign affairs and defense.
Mayor of Paris
Bertrand Delanoë became the Mayor of Paris on March 18, 2001. This was a big moment because it was the first time since 1977 that a group of left-wing parties won control of the Paris Council. Before him, Jean Tiberi and Jacques Chirac had been mayors.
Delanoë won the election by leading a team of Socialists, Greens, and Communists. People in Paris were tired of past problems like corruption in the city government. This helped Delanoë win, even though the left-wing parties faced challenges in other elections that year.
As mayor, Delanoë became famous for creating new and fun events in Paris. One popular idea was "Paris-Plages" (Paris Beach). Every summer, he transformed parts of the Seine riverbanks into sandy beaches. This allowed Parisians who couldn't go on a regular vacation to relax, sunbathe, and build sandcastles right in the city center. This program started in 2002 and has been copied by many other cities around the world.
Delanoë also focused on improving the quality of life in Paris. He wanted to reduce pollution and cut down on car traffic. He planned for a new, clean tramway system to help with traffic. He also introduced a program called Vélib'. This program allowed people to rent bicycles cheaply from stations all over Paris. It was a huge success. He also planned for a similar program called Autolib, where small cars could be shared. He was reelected as mayor in 2008 and served until 2014.
Attack on the Mayor
On October 5, 2002, during a city-wide festival called Nuit Blanche, Delanoë was attacked while meeting with people. He was injured, but it was not life-threatening. Before going to the hospital, he insisted that the festivities should continue. He left the hospital after about two weeks.
Olympic Bid
One challenge for Delanoë was when Paris failed to win the bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics on July 6, 2005. He suggested that British Prime Minister Tony Blair might have influenced the decision, which led to London winning the games. However, Delanoë's popularity actually grew after this. Many people in France felt that President Jacques Chirac was more to blame, possibly because of a comment he made about Finnish food that might have offended members of the International Olympic Committee.
Considering a Presidential Run
Delanoë was thought to be considering running for president in the 2012 French presidential election. However, this plan changed in November 2008 when he lost the race to become the leader of his party to Martine Aubry.
Fake Letter Incident
On December 22, 2008, The New York Times newspaper published a letter that seemed to be from Delanoë. The letter criticized Caroline Kennedy's plan to become a senator in the United States. The newspaper later found out that the letter, which was sent by email, was fake and had not been properly checked.
Personal Life
Bertrand Delanoë was one of the first major French politicians to openly share that he is gay. He did this during a television interview in 1998, before he was elected mayor. Even though he was a busy politician, Delanoë often attended cultural events. He went to film festivals and sometimes spoke in the media about his friendship with the famous French singer, Dalida.
Electoral Roles
- National Assembly of France:
- Member for Paris (26th area): 1981–1986.
- Senate of France:
- Member for Paris: 1995–2001 (he resigned from this role).
- Council of Paris:
- Mayor of Paris: Elected in 2001. Reelected in 2008.
- Councillor of Paris: Elected in 1977. Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2008.
See Also
- List of mayors of Paris
- LGBT culture in Paris
Images for kids
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Bertrand Delanoë's signature
