Bertrand Delanoë facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bertrand Delanoë
|
|
|---|---|
Delanoë in 2008
|
|
| Mayor of Paris | |
| In office 25 March 2001 – 5 April 2014 |
|
| Deputy | Anne Hidalgo |
| Preceded by | Jean Tiberi |
| Succeeded by | Anne Hidalgo |
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 24 September 1995 – 27 March 2001 |
|
| Constituency | Paris |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 21 June 1981 – 1 April 1986 |
|
| 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 is a member of the Socialist Party. Before becoming mayor, he served in the National Assembly from 1981 to 1986. He was also in the Senate from 1995 until 2001.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bertrand Delanoë was born on May 30, 1950, in Tunis. At that time, Tunis was a French protectorate. His mother was French, and his father was French-Tunisian. His father worked as a land surveyor and was an atheist. His mother was a nurse and a Roman Catholic.
When he was six years old, Delanoë joined a Christian singing group. It was called the "Petits Chanteurs des Sables." At age 11, he saw the Bizerte crisis. This was a conflict between France and newly independent Tunisia.
After Tunisia became independent, Delanoë and his family moved back to France. His family later separated. His mother and he went to live in Rodez, France. After school, Delanoë studied law at the University of Toulouse. He also has a diploma in economics.
Political Career
Starting in Politics
Bertrand Delanoë started in politics when he was 23. He became the secretary of the Socialist group in Aveyron.
In 1977, he was first elected to the Council of Paris. This council helps run the city. In 1981, he was elected to the National Assembly. This is a part of the French Parliament.
By 1993, he led the Socialist Party in Paris. In 1995, he was elected to the Senate. There, he worked as the secretary for the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.
Becoming Mayor of Paris
Delanoë became the Mayor of Paris on March 18, 2001. This was a big moment for the left-wing parties. It was the first time they won control of the Council of Paris since 1977. Before him, Jean Tiberi and Jacques Chirac were mayors. Chirac became President of the French Republic after being mayor for 18 years.
Delanoë won the election with a group of Socialists, Greens, and Communists. The conservative candidates, Jean Tiberi and Philippe Séguin, could not agree. This split their votes. Paris had always been a strong area for conservative parties. Delanoë's win was surprising. Many Parisians were tired of corruption scandals from past leaders.
New Ideas for Paris
Delanoë became famous for creating new events in Paris. One popular idea was "Paris Beach" (Paris-Plages). Every summer, sand and activities were brought to the banks of the Seine river. This allowed Parisians who couldn't go on vacation to relax. They could sunbathe and build sandcastles in the city center. This program started in 2002. Many other cities around the world have copied it.
As mayor, Delanoë wanted to make life better in Paris. He aimed to reduce pollution and traffic. He planned a tramway to help with traffic. He also created more pedestrian malls. He introduced Vélib', a program for renting bicycles. Parisians could rent bikes cheaply from stations all over the city. This program was very successful. He also planned a similar program called Autolib for shared small cars.
He was reelected as mayor in 2008. He served another six-year term until 2014.
An Incident During a Festival
On October 5, 2002, during the Nuit Blanche festival, Delanoë was attacked. He was mingling with the public when someone stabbed him. Before going to the hospital, he told everyone to keep the festivities going. His injury was not life-threatening. He left the hospital after about two weeks.
Olympic Bid for Paris
Paris tried to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. On July 6, 2005, Paris lost the bid. This was a big disappointment for Delanoë. He suggested that British Prime Minister Tony Blair might have influenced the decision. However, Delanoë's popularity actually grew after this. Many people blamed President Jacques Chirac more. Chirac had made comments that were believed to have offended members of the International Olympic Committee.
Considering a Presidential Run
Delanoë was thought to be considering running for president in 2012. He might have challenged the president at the time, Nicolas Sarkozy. However, this plan changed in November 2008. He lost the race for the leadership of the Socialist Party to Martine Aubry.
A Fake Letter Incident
On December 22, 2008, The New York Times published a letter. It was supposedly from Delanoë. The letter criticized Caroline Kennedy's plan to run for a US Senate seat. The newspaper later found out the letter was fake. It had been sent by email and was not properly checked.
Personal Life
Bertrand Delanoë often attended cultural events. He went to film festivals. He was also known for his friendship with the famous French entertainer, Dalida.
Electoral Roles
- National Assembly of France
- Member of the National Assembly for Paris: 1981–1986.
- Senate of France
- Member of the Senate for Paris: 1995–2001.
- 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
In Spanish: Bertrand Delanoë para niños
- List of mayors of Paris
- LGBT culture in Paris
