Fine for too many female leaders, the mayor of Paris: 'absurd'

The mayor of Paris, the socialist Anne Hidalgo, has branded as "absurd" the decision announced last Friday of a fine of 90,000 euros imposed on the municipality by the state for having "appointed too many women to management positions".

This fine, which concerns the year 2018, was decided by the Ministry of Public Administration for failure to comply with a provision on equality between men and women, which was subsequently abolished.

"I am delighted today - said the mayor during a meeting of the city council - for the sentence to a fine that was imposed on us" for "having appointed too many women to management posts".

In total, Hidalgo joked, "69% of the appointments, 11 women and only 5 men".

"What is beautiful with the bureaucracy - he continued - is that it knows absolutely no discernment and therefore does not fear anything. Hidalgo announced that she will personally bring the fine, accompanied by" my councilors, directors and all the women of the general secretary".

"I will propose to all the presidents of the groups, majority and opposition", to join the group.

This fine "is clearly absurd, unjust, irresponsible, dangerous", she added, then denouncing France's "delay" in promoting women: "to promote and achieve equality one day - she said - we need to accelerate the pace and make so that there are more women than men in the appointments ".

The Minister of Public Service, Amélie de Montchalin, acknowledged that the provision that gave rise to the fine, repealed in 2019, is "absurd".

"The cause of women - she tweeted - deserves better! I want the fine paid by Paris for 2018 to finance concrete actions to promote women in the public service".

(HANDLE).