What is the purpose of mayors in the wards of Paris ?

The power of the arrondissement mayors, specified by the Paris-Lyon-Marseille law, is limited. Because they have very small budgets, they essentially only give opinions regarding matters concerning the arrondissement. They have a say in the management of certain local facilities, and may even run local town hall sessions. In Paris, until 1995 when the Right lost a number of arrondissement seats, their role remained subordinate to the central Paris town hall. In 2001, the Left became the majority and the new arrondissement mayors had to win back power in an administration which, during a period of rival political fighting in the central town hall, had become used to managing Parisian affairs by itself. Dominique Bertinotti, the socialist mayor of the 4th arrondissement in Paris, known for her dynamism and the originality of her initiatives, explains how she assumes her responsibilities as an elected representative in this very unusual situation.