The political platform announcement of Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, image from www.lefigaro.fr. The current mayor is the most popular public figure in French polls and a likely future Socialist Party leader; amidst this extraordinary popularity, some predict he will be the next most prestigious Socialist presidential candidate, enjoying a smooth career path like Chirac did after becoming Paris mayor. Bertrand Delanoe officially launched his re-election campaign for Paris mayor on Sunday the 13th, criticizing the right-wing UMP in the local election by saying, "My political opponents are conservatives, stuck in their ways and lacking sincerity." Under the election slogan "A Time Ahead" (Un temps d'avance), he unveiled his key future priorities. First, regarding urban living, transportation, environmental protection, and safety, he plans to build 30,000 new social housing units, extend the tram line on the Boulevard Périphérique to Porte d'Asnières, and introduce "Autolib," a car-sharing system similar to the successful Velib bicycle scheme (2009), which will become the greatest innovation in urban transportation and environmental protection. He aims to reduce urban carbon dioxide emissions, establish a regional meteorological bureau for environmental monitoring, install 200,000 square meters of solar panels, create 30 hectares of green space, improve urban noise levels, and display these figures on electronic billboards for public reference.

Regarding social policies: he will create 2,200 spots for elderly, disabled, and mobility-impaired individuals in nursing homes, add 1,500 urgently needed housing units for those in need, and renovate another 2,000 old urgent housing units. For social security: he will double late-night mediation deployments in six areas of Paris, establish daytime mediation service units, ensure safety measures for 500 schools with video surveillance upon dismissal, and provide economic support through investment reforms worth tens of millions of euros, creating new incubator enterprises and equipping high-speed broadband to make Paris the capital of the internet. Culturally: he will establish a graphic design art city for comics, create a cultural passport for teenagers aged 10-15 allowing them to watch experimental films and attend four theater performances, and create a holiday focused on the French language. Regarding children and education: he will create 4,500 nursery school spots, ensuring each district has at least one nursery open from 7 am to 7 pm to allow working parents peace of mind. He will establish family nanny services, open 14 new schools in northern and southern districts, double computer teaching, and double access to schools for children with disabilities. Tens of millions of euros will be invested in scientific research and universities. www.bertranddelanoe.net