The Local Council Of Paris

If you are thinking of buying french property for sale in Paris or the Isle-de-France, particularly if you are not French, it is advisable to have a rough knowledge of the system of local government in Paris, as it is unlikely to be like anything you are used to in your home country. Paris has been a 'commune' or municipality since 1834, although also twice previously in 1790 and 1795, and at the time was much smaller than its present size. In 1860 neighbouring land or territory was annexed to give the city (with its two large parks in 1929), its present area of around 105 sq. K. The map we see today of the 20 arrondissements is precisely that of 1860, with the later addition of the parks, spiralling out numerically from the centre. From 1790 too, Paris became the capital (prefecture) of the Seine departement, but this was split into four separate departements in 1968, with the city of Paris retaining its '75' number. Uniquely, this results in Paris being the only departement and commune at the same time on French soil. Each one of Paris' 20 arrondissements elects a council, and they elect a mayor, who with other elected members vote for the Mayor of Paris. In fact Paris has been ruled more directly from Central and departemental government for much of the last two centuries, having no mayor until 1977 and the Paris Prefecture of Police still being under state control today. Nowadays the Council of Paris, presided over by the mayor, can either meet for municipal council business or for departement council business, depending upon what is on the agenda. Whilst having no municipal police force the city does have a force of enthusiastic traffic wardens. The Prefecture of Police is still directed by the National rather than the departement government and is in charge of fire fighting as well in the other three close departements. Being a capital city Paris is basically run from the top, it seems. It cannot be denied that due to its unusual local government structure many problems have loomed and indeed are likely to loom in the future. The present local government structure has not kept up with the changing demographics of the larger city. Urban degeneration, immigration, nearly 20% foreign residence in the Paris area, expensive inner-city property prices, yet derelict inner suburbs, have led to increasing friction in some areas. It is generally agreed that Paris property for sale in france needs to look from the centre outwards in its view of local government, and also that governing from the centre does tend to ignore the vast expanses of the metropolitan and suburban areas where little is being done to improve the situation, whilst city-dwellers 'have it all good' so it is thought. Whilst this cannot be entirely the case, it is worth checking out the area you are looking to buy in, or maybe get your agent to do it for you, to ensure that you are really getting your money's worth when buying property in Paris.