Paris will choose a new mayor on Sunday, with one unlikely issue dominating campaigns alongside all the partisan acrimony - dogs. Socialist Emmanuel Gregoire, who led the first round of voting last Sunday, has also committed to expanding outdoor spaces for pets. "The main goal is to have outdoor spaces where animals can live as comfortably as possible," Gregoire told Reuters. An Ifop poll in February showed 58% of French voters saw animal welfare as a priority issue in their municipality. Still, not everyone is convinced dogs will make a difference in the second and final round of voting this weekend.

Source: The Telegraph March 17, 2026 12:51 UTC