Socialist party candidate Emmanuel Gregoire rode his bicycle to the City Hall where he was given the keys to the city by outgoing mayor Anne Hidalgo after winning the Paris mayoral race on Sunday (March 22).

Gregoire easily beat conservative former minister Rachida Dati in the second round of voting, exit polls showed on Sunday.

Gregoire's victory deepens leftist control of the French capital, where the Socialists have been in power for 25 years, overseeing an ecological urban renewal project that resonated with many voters.

Gregoire takes over from her former boss, Anne Hidalgo, who has been credited for opening up kilometres of cycling lanes in the capital, and closing many streets including roads by the Seine River to car traffic.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 22, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF CROWD OF JOURNALISTS WITH CAMERAS SURROUNDING WINNING PARIS MAYORAL CANDIDATE, EMMANUEL GREGOIRE, AS HE ARRIVES IN FRONT OF CITY HALL

2. GREGOIRE AND OUTGOING MAYOR, ANNE HIDALGO, WALKING ON STAGE HAND IN HAND

3. (SOUNDBITE) (French) OUTGOING PARIS MAYOR, ANNE HIDALGO, SAYING:

"So today, I'm giving the keys to the city to Emmanuel Gregoire" / CROWD CHEERING, HIDALGO HANDING KEY TO GREGOIRE, GREGOIRE HOLDING KEY UP

4. HIDALGO AND OTHER PEOPLE CLAPPING AS GREGOIRE SPEAKS

5. GREGOIRE SHAKING HANDS WITH SUPPORTERS AND BLOWING KISS AS SUPPORTERS CLAP

6. GREGOIRE HOLDING UP ROSE AS CROWD CHEERS

7. SUPPORTERS

8. GREGOIRE, HIDALGO AND OTHER PEOPLE DANCING ON STAGE