Paris mayor acknowledges families' grief amid periscolaire abuse scandal

Anne Hidalgo told listeners she shares the pain of families whose children suffered sexual assaults in Paris periscolaire programs, emphasizing her role as mayor from 2014 to 2026. A group of about fifteen families has filed a criminal complaint that implicates both Hidalgo and her former deputy Emmanuel Grégoire. Hidalgo argued the facts do not meet the legal definition of a crime and is scheduled to be questioned by a Senate investigative commission.

She highlighted measures taken since 2015, such as requesting a report from the city's inspection service and accessing sexual offender registers, asserting that recruitment filters were in place. Advocacy groups, including #MeTooEcole and SOS Périscolaire, have criticized her for not apologising and for perceived systemic failures. Grégoire, in contrast, launched a plan in April to address sexual violence in after-school settings, though families say an apology remains absent.