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Rabat – Moroccan-born politician Lamia El Aaraje has been elected as the new First Deputy Mayor of Paris, in replacement of the outgoing Patrick Bloche.
Born on November 22, 1986, in Rabat, El Aaraje is known as a key figure in the city’s Socialist Party and for her firm political stance, especially her opposition to the radical leftist party La France Insoumise.
She moved to France at the age of 18 to pursue her studies. She later built a strong career within the Socialist Party and rose through the ranks to become the first secretary of the party’s powerful Paris federation in 2023, a position she held until mid-2025.
El Aaraje is part of what has been described as the party’s social-democratic wing. She played a major role in building alliances during the recent political campaign, helping bring together socialists, environmentalists, and communists early on. She also supported key figures such as Emmanuel Grégoire and previously backed Rémi Féraud in the Socialist primary race.
‘I changed my opinion about her during the campaign’
Before entering politics, El Aaraje earned a doctorate in pharmacy but chose not to practice. Instead, she shifted toward health law and worked in leadership roles at mutual insurance organizations. Her political engagement began in the 2010s, including her time as a student union leader at the University of Limoges.
She was first elected in 2014 in Paris’s 20th district and quickly took on responsibilities related to health, disability, and mental health. She gained more influence over the years. She served as a Paris councilor and led key city committees on public spaces, infrastructure, and safety.
El Aaraje also briefly served as a member of parliament in 2021 before her election was rejected by the Constitutional Council. She later lost a re-election bid in 2022 to Danielle Simonnet.
Despite political rivalries, colleagues across the spectrum describe her as determined, hardworking, and highly organized. “I changed my opinion about her during the campaign. I mainly saw the brutal side of the character,” AFP quoted a Parisian elected official from the majority as saying. “In reality, she has a great work ethic, she is determined, and has excellent organizational skills.”
