PARIS  — Anne Hidalgo has claimed victory as the French capital's first female mayor.

While the Socialist candidate won Paris, the party lost to the conservatives in dozens of other towns and cities around France in Sunday's municipal elections.

"I am the first woman mayor of Paris. I am aware of the challenge," Hidalgo said in a victory speech.

She defeated the candidate from the conservative right, former minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.

Hidalgo had served as a deputy mayor for 13 years under outgoing Socialist Bertrand Delanoe.