French UMP right-wing Paris mayoral candidate Francoise de Panafieu, image from www.20minutes.fr. This week, French right-wing UMP mayoral candidate Francoise de Panafieu also presented her political platform, launching this battle for Paris's future mayor. Under the election slogan "What matters is you (l'essentiel c'est vous)," the right wing launched its policies: prioritizing housing in the metropolis. She stated, "Paris has become a polarized city, either for the wealthy or those in great need; I hope everyone has the right to live in Paris." She plans to provide 42,000 new residences within six years, with 24,000 being newly built and 6,000 allocated to students. The plan aims to stop the displacement of the middle class and families, promote homeownership by assisting with 50,000 Euro mortgages at zero interest, and help many Parisians become homeowners. She remarked, "Paris is the dirtiest and most dilapidated of all cities," aiming to make the city cleaner by establishing a rapid-response environmental cleanliness unit to guarantee hygiene. Regarding safety and freedom, she said, "Paris, like other places, I want to prioritize protecting the vulnerable." She proposes increasing regional video surveillance systems, installing monitors in every space, especially near schools or public areas. She plans to establish urban police forces with nearly 3,000 municipal officers to maintain traffic and public buildings, and create victim assistance units in each district.

Regarding urban transportation prospects without ideology, she stated, "We must end the antagonism between cars and bicycles, bicycles and motorcycles, and motorcycles and pedestrians; I want them to coexist harmoniously." She proposes effective street contracts with buses every five minutes during peak hours and opening bus lanes during these times. Plans include increasing parking spaces and adding 5,000 motorcycle parking spots annually. On air pollution, she said, "I do not oppose drivers; I oppose polluting cars." She absolutely opposes particularly polluting vehicles in the city center and encourages using clean rental cars like Vélib'. To improve the urban greenhouse effect, the city hall will offer free building energy verification and be responsible for improvements. She proposes creating 30 hectares of green space and three natural ecological zones, along with a complete noise opposition plan. By 2014, the goal is to reduce Paris's waste by one-third.

On employment, she said, "An unbearable Paris is the place with the highest unemployment rate in France," proposing guidance for small businesses to establish themselves in central Paris. She aims to protect local shops, oppose trends toward single-activity zones, and allow shops in tourist areas to open on Sundays. She wants companies to return to Paris to create 500,000 square meters of office, commercial, and craft districts, plus three major tech zones. To restore Parisian solidarity, she proposes a 300 Euro childcare voucher for families, promoting new nurseries such as association-run or company-run facilities. For the elderly, she suggests home-care support protocols, updating nursing homes, and adding 3,000 beds for those with limited mobility. For people with disabilities, the city hall guarantees jobs for six percent of disabled individuals and creates two senior disability centers. Opposing poverty, the city hall will open administrative dining rooms in winter and establish temporary shelters with 20 beds per district for the homeless.

To enliven the city, she said, "Sports, culture, and youth activities must replace communication." She wants streets to become venues for exhibitions and creation, opening diverse creative spaces and establishing a European film carnival. Regarding sports, she proposes building five new swimming pools, three playgrounds, and ten gymnasia, ensuring every child has the opportunity to engage in personal recreational sports after school. For teenagers, she proposes a youth card offering discounts on transportation, cultural leisure, sports, training, and promotional events. Aligning with youth sports and cultural schedules, she plans to open a music rehearsal hall and five creative spaces in each district. In education, she proposes after-school tutoring from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM for children under 12 needing academic reinforcement, releasing school opening times and organizing school access during strike days, strengthening foreign language teaching, and updating elementary school playgrounds and sanitation.

For equal opportunities and respect for diversity, each district's city hall will hold an annual New French Citizen ceremony to help them integrate into citizenship and the nation. The Paris City Hall will sign a charter of diversity and guarantee equal rights to enter municipal work ranks, ensuring every civil society group can reasonably practice its religious beliefs. Those interested can directly visit the candidate's website at www.PANAFLEU.2008.fr.