Abstract

The topic of personalization of leadership has long been subject of close scholarly attention. Although it is seen as a global tendency, the central role recognized by the personae of the political actors in the democratic systems presents itself differently in each national setting. Accordingly, the Italian case shows peculiar aspects: it is in the local dimension that the personalization process can develop more completely, facilitated by electoral laws. Still, the phenomenon of mayors who manage to become downright leaders in their townships can as well be detected in France, as shown by the example of the mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë. The article offers an analysis of the construction of leadership of the first citizen of Paris, conducted by studying the governing and campaigning practices implemented by the socialist mayor.