Paris versus the populists
Soon, both Parisians and out-of-towners will be able to enjoy a greener, quieter and less polluted city. On Sunday, residents took part in a referendum and 66% of them voted in favour of pedestrianising and 'rewilding' 500 streets, to be distributed across the various neighbourhoods. Though the next steps will take time – individual arrondissements' city halls will now have to identify the suitable roads in their patch – it feels like unalloyed good news.
Paris is changing again. As the pandemic receded, residents of the capital and tourists alike rediscovered the city, and found it to be considerably more amenable to cyclists than it once had been. Last year, those attending the Olympics and Paralympics were pleasantly surprised to find the metro cleaner, and mostly rid of its formerly persistent urine stench.
Paris, unlike London, doesn't have many parks and substantial green spaces, and any effort to introduce more trees (and fewer cars) to the capital should be applauded. That the referendum even took place is also worth discussing. The votation, as the Mairie de Paris calls it, is a yearly event which was announced in 2020, and is now entering its fourth year.
Though the votes are technically 'public consultations', and thus non-legally binding, they provide Parisians with a chance to have their say on their local areas, and what happens there. The first referendum, held in 2023, asked people if they were pro or anti self-service electric scooters. The answer couldn't have been clearer: as it turned out, 90% of respondents supported a ban. As a result, the scooters were removed from the streets of Paris.
Last year, Parisians were asked for their opinions on SUVs, and whether to try and curtail their use in the inner city. Again, residents decided that people shouldn't be encouraged to buy the large, heavy, polluting vehicles, and voted to create a specific parking charge for them, costing triple the amount of regular parking. The vote was closer – only 55% agreed with the motion – but it did pass, and the city carried it out.
On top of Paris-wide questions, the capital's arrondissements are also welcome to use the votation system as a way to make local decisions. This year, for example, 72% of residents in the 14th arrondissement agreed to launch a food bank in their neighbourhood, while over in the 19th, 58% voted in favour of building a memorial garden for pets. Five other districts voted on their own issues, and every motion passed. Isn't that neat?
There is, it should be said, one dark cloud hanging over this relatively new initiative. Last week, only 4% of Parisians took part in the referendum, the lowest figure out of the three votes. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, whose brainchild it was, doesn't seem to have figured out a way to get more people involved, even though the texture of their very neighbourhoods is at stake.
It is a frustrating state of affairs, and is also the line of attack now favoured by the right-wing opposition who have branded the exercise a 'sham'. But that doesn't mean it should be written off. We live in cynical times, and people across the world keep complaining about their governments feeling too distant, and unrepresentative of the very people voting for them.
Any effort to try and bring democracy back to street or neighbourhood level should be seen as a good thing, even if people are still getting used to it. As the Brexit vote showed on our side of the Channel, voters will lash out if they feel they're not being listened to, and aren't given a say in how their world is run. Electric scooters, SUVs and pedestrianised streets may not be what national governments rise and fall on, but they can and do change people's day-to-day lives.
In fact, London's Sadiq Khan, Manchester's Andy Burnham and other metro mayors should be looking at Hidalgo and wondering whether something similar could be introduced in their cities. The changes they would bring wouldn't exactly be life-changing, but, bit by bit, they may give residents the feeling that they are being heard, and their wishes are being respected. It wouldn't kill populism dead on its own, but really, it should be worth a try.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
US lawmakers to attend Paris Airshow amid tariff, national security concerns
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - More than two dozen U.S. lawmakers are set to attend the Paris Airshow next week amid rising concerns about potential American aerospace tariffs and national security issues, lawmakers told Reuters. Senators Jerry Moran and Jeanne Shaheen will lead a previously unreported bipartisan delegation of 11 U.S. senators, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, as well as about a dozen U.S. governors and more than a dozen House lawmakers led by Representative Sam Graves, who heads the House Transportation Committee. "As China continues to exert its aggression on democratic countries and Russia prolongs its unjust war in Ukraine, the U.S. must partner with our allies to bolster our national security and promote economic partnerships," said Moran, the Republican senator who chairs a Senate aviation subcommittee. Airbus ( opens new tab and Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab are both boosting U.S. investments. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders are among the state officials attending as they make the case for aerospace companies to boost U.S. investments. The push comes as global aerospace companies and U.S. airlines have warned new tariffs on imported commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts could put air safety and the supply chain at risk or trigger other unintended consequences like higher ticket prices. "Unfortunately, our manufacturers are experiencing severe disruptions as a result of this administration's tariffs and our allies are questioning our commitment to mutual defense," Shaheen said, adding "it's especially important for this bipartisan delegation to reaffirm that America remains a reliable, stable partner and that our capabilities remain unmatched – and that's exactly what we intend to do." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau are also attending the show. The industry already faces 10% tariffs on nearly all imported planes and parts after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping duties on trade partners in April. Last month, the Commerce Department opened an investigation known as Section 232 looking at risks to U.S. national security from imported goods, which could be used as a basis for even higher tariffs on imported planes, engines and parts. Airlines and manufacturers have been lobbying Trump to restore a tariff-free regime under the 1979 Civil Aircraft Agreement, in which the U.S. sector enjoyed a $75 billion annual trade surplus. According to the agreement, parts must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to be deemed tariff-free.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
SNP warned not to ‘squander' £9.1bn boost after Chancellor Rachel Reeves unleashed £300bn UK-wide splurge
LABOUR challenged the SNP not to 'squander' a £9.1billion boost to Holyrood's coffers after the Chancellor turned on the taps at her spending review. Rachel Reeves unveiled a £300billion UK-wide splurge in a bid to appease voters after her party's rocky first year in power. 2 Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar labelled the extra money as 'game-changing' 2 Finance Secretary Shona Robison claimed that if Ms Reeves was being fair, she'd have sent an extra £1bn a year to Holyrood Announcing her long-term spending plans for the years from 2026, she confirmed major investment in defence and nuclear power plus a three per cent above-inflation increase to NHS spending down south. Ms Reeves admitted 'too many people in too many parts of our country' were yet to feel the benefits of the 'change' they voted for when Labour swept back into power last July. The knock-on effect of the Chancellor's funding pledges means a massive cash boost for the Scottish Government to spend as it sees fit. Nats ministers will get an average annual boost of £2.4billion on day-to-day spending and £400million for major projects in the years to 2029. That's on top of the £4billion-plus yearly bonus delivered last October from the first Budget of Sir Keir Starmer's government. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar labelled the extra money as 'game-changing'. He said: 'These plans will bring billions of pounds of investment to Scotland — on top of the record Budget settlement. 'But the massive increase in funds must not be squandered by the SNP government, which has a track record of waste and failure.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said voters would face a clear choice at next May's Holyrood election. He said: 'It's either a third decade of the SNP, who've squandered their opportunity over the last 18 years and squandered the £4.9billion extra the UK Government gave earlier. Top 5 takeaways from Spending review 'Or a government that's committed to investing in public services and infrastructure, renewing Scotland and working with a UK Labour government to deliver jobs right across the country.' But experts warned the extra cash could be swallowed by Scottish Government pledges such as pay hikes for public sector workers and higher devolved benefits. FUEL AID HOPE NATS' Finance Secretary indicated the SNP might dish out more cash to pensioners after Labour's winter fuel payment U-turn. But Shona Robison refused to commit to passing on all of an estimated extra £120million from Westminster to struggling Scots OAPs. Labour has now said older people down south with an income below £35,000 will receive the handouts, following an outcry when they were axed. Experts reckon the extra funds now due to Holyrood will be enough to cover £100 payments Nats have already pledged to pensioners. Asked if the payments could be increased, Ms Robison said: 'There's other things we need to fund as well which is why we're looking at the options. We'll deliver the best deal for pensioners.' Nats ministers are already set to spend £2billion more on welfare by the end of the decade than they receive from Westminster. But SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison claimed that if Ms Reeves was being fair, she'd have sent an extra £1billion a year to Holyrood. She said: 'This review is business as usual from the UK Government, which is yet again treating Scotland as an afterthought and failing to provide the funding we need. 'Had our resource funding for day-to-day priorities grown in line with the UK Government's overall spending, we'd have £1.1billion more to spend on our priorities over the next three years. In effect, Scotland has been short-changed by more than a billion pounds.' But despite the extra cash, an expert warned SNP policy decisions mean tax rises or spending cuts may be needed to balance Scotland's books by 2027/28. David Phillips, associate director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the winner of next year's election 'will face tough choices' due to increased NHS, benefits, and public sector pay costs. Earlier, Ms Reeves told the Commons her plans were the start of Labour's project to 'renew Britain'. She vowed to back the Acorn carbon capture project in Aberdeenshire. But official documents raised questions about how the scheme, to store gas emissions under the North Sea, would be funded. NUCLEAR SWIPE AT FM & CO RACHEL Reeves slammed the SNP's opposition to arms factories and nuclear power as she confirmed defence spending hikes. The Chancellor announced an £11billion boost for the armed forces plus a £600million increase for security and intelligence agencies. She also confirmed a £250million redevelopment of the Faslane base on the Clyde, where new nuclear submarines will be stationed. It means defence spending will be upped to 2.6 per cent of GDP by April 2027. Ms Reeves blasted Nats' opposition to nuclear weapons and munitions. She said: 'Investment in Scotland, jobs in Scotland, defence for the United Kingdom, opposed by the Scottish National Party, delivered by this Labour Government.' Sir Keir Starmer previously set out the UK Government's Strategic Defence Review in a speech in Glasgow last week. Nats and Labour clashed as the No10 chief claimed Nats' goal of scrapping Trident nuclear missiles would make Scotland less safe. Sir Keir said: 'Imagine the effect that would have on the safety and security of the UK and of Scotland.' They concluded: 'A final investment decision will be taken later.' Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy warned UK taxes will probably have to rise at the Budget this autumn. He said: 'This spend-now-tax-later statement will offer no comfort to those betrayed by the first year of a disastrous Labour Government. 'Taxes remain sky-high and the Chancellor will almost certainly have to hike them further to pay for her spending plans, breaking yet another of her promises.' Mr Hoy added: 'Scots are saddled with two failing, high-tax, left-wing governments — one at Westminster and the other at Holyrood.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Top Republican floats wild idea that LA should be stripped of hosting 2028 Olympic games after ICE rioters set city on fire
A Republican is calling for the 2028 Olympic host city of Los Angeles to be stripped of the honor of hosting the games after anti-ICE riots have engulfed the liberal city in flames. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said he is unsure of LA's ability to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in light of the violence and distress rocking the city. Moreno pointed to the realities of current political leadership at the state and local levels in California as the causes of his concern. Given that essentially the same political leadership will be in place in California and Los Angeles in 2026 and 2028, Moreno suggested making the decision to 'say they're incapable of handling two big, high-profile events like this?' 'Won't we be better off as a nation, just to make an acknowledgement of that and move it to someplace that actually will have law and order, that will have the proper amount of protections for American citizens and the 10s of millions of visitors that are going to come to both of those events?' Moreno added. LA2028 CEO Reynold H. Hoover replied that he was confident California would be ready to display 'America's best' when opening Olympic ceremonies kick off July 14, 2028. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), also noted during the hearing that holding such premier international sporting events are 'a great honor.' Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, who serves as the chair of the subcommittee during which Moreno's exchange took place, noted that President Donald Trump was the one who pushed for the United States to host the Olympics in Los Angeles during his first term. 'We're going to continue to welcome the world to the United States,' Lankford noted Tuesday. 'We want to make this the most secure, and demonstrate the freedom that happens here in the United States, and literally invite the world to come enjoy that freedom with us,' Lankford also noted. Moreno's Tuesday exchange came one day after California Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez told CNN Monday that the rioters participating in the fiery Los Angeles ICE protests were no different than sports fans. The California lawmaker also used the appearance to blast the Trump administration for sending both Marines and California National Guard members to the Golden State to deal to rioters who have set vehicles on fire and hurled bricks at law enforcement officers. 'It's no different than when a team wins a national championship and people get overexcited,' Sanchez said, adding that the 'vast majority of protestors have been peaceful.' 'We have been calling for protestors to protest peacefully, that is their constitutional right. The vast majority of protestors have been peaceful. There are always a few bad actors.' 'And yes, we think anybody who commits property damage ought to be arrested and ought to be prosecuted,' Sanchez noted. Sanchez condemned Trump's decision to deploy federal troops to handle civilian unrest as 'authoritarian flexing' that does not enhance anyone's safety. 'Local law enforcement has said they can handle the protest, it's no different than when a team wins a national championship & people get overexcited, and they overturn vehicles and light them on fire, local law enforcement is prepared to handle those types of situations,' Sanchez claimed. Just before Sanchez's CNN appearance, it was announced that Trump would mobilize 700 Marines to LA to assist the California National Guard in quelling the protests.
