Candidate Pierre-Yves Bournazel stated he would have resigned if he were Paris mayor amid failures exposed by a «Cash Investigation» probe into after-school care. Aired Thursday evening on France 2, the report highlights ignored complaints and inappropriate animator behaviors. Several mayoral candidates reacted with shock and demanded accountability.
An investigation aired Thursday evening on France 2 in the «Cash Investigation» program revealed serious failures in Paris's after-school care. Parents report that their alerts about suspicious staff behavior were ignored. The lack of a recruitment framework is highlighted, along with inappropriate acts, such as an animator kissing a child on the mouth at the Saint-Dominique public nursery school in the 7th arrondissement.
Pierre-Yves Bournazel, Horizons and Renaissance candidate for Paris mayor, reacted on Saturday, January 31, on Franceinfo. «If I were mayor of Paris, I would have resigned and fired the executive and administration members who failed. They failed, and at some point, there is an ethic of responsibility», he stated. He added that the mayor should «hold his executive, the deputy in charge of after-school care, and the administrations accountable».
Paris City Hall announced it has launched an administrative inquiry, filed a report with the prosecutor's office, and immediately suspended two implicated animators.
Other candidates expressed outrage. Rachida Dati, 7th arrondissement mayor and LR-MoDem list leader, denounced an «omerta» and «systemic dysfunctions», demanding a comprehensive probe into after-school care. Emmanuel Grégoire (PS, left-wing union excluding LFI) voiced his «shock» and «anger». Sophia Chikirou (LFI) questioned: «Who are the responsible parties? Why have the alerts never been acted upon?». Sarah Knafo (Reconquête!) called it a «scandal», noting the lack of checks for recruitments.
These reactions come amid Paris municipal elections, where public service quality is a key issue.
