Laurent Wauquiez

Contents

Laurent Timothée Marie Wauquiez ([lɔʁɑ̃ timɔte maʁi vokje] ⓘ; born 12 April 1975) is a French politician who presided over the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes from 2016 to 2024. He is a member of The Republicans (LR), which he led from 2017 to 2019 following the resignation of Nicolas Sarkozy.

Wauquiez was Secretary of State for European Affairs under the Foreign Minister Alain Juppé; and previously Secretary of State for Employment under the Minister of the Economy, Industry and Employment[1] from March 2008 in François Fillon's government. He also was Government Spokesman from June 2007 to March 2008 as Minister of State under the Prime Minister. He was elected as 2nd Vice President of the ORU Fogar at the organisation's General Assembly held in Quito, Ecuador on 16 October 2016.

On 10 December 2017, Wauquiez was elected to the presidency of The Republicans with 74% of the vote.[2] Pundits have described him as moving the party to the right.[3] On 2 June 2019, a week after overseeing the worst result for the right in its history in the European election with 8% of the vote, Wauquiez resigned as party president.[4]

After 2024 legislative election, Wauquiez became president of the LR group in the National Assembly.[5]

Early life and education

Wauquiez graduated from the École normale supérieure in 1994 and Université Panthéon-Sorbonne with a masters in history and studied public law at the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po); he later attended the École nationale d'administration (ÉNA).[6] He worked as professor at Emlyon Business School.[7]

Political career

Wauquiez held several governmental positions over the course of Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency. He was named the Secretary of State for Employment in 2008 and also functioned as the government spokesman.[8][9] He later served as Minister of European Affairs and of Higher Education.[8] In 2012, he was re-elected to the National Assembly and became head of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in 2015.[8]

In 2012, Wauquiez opposed legalisation of same-sex marriage.[10]

On 10 December 2017, Wauquiez was elected as the president of The Republicans,[11] winning over Maël de Calan and Florence Portelli.[12] During his time in office, he overrode party scepticism to appoint François-Xavier Bellamy to lead the LR list in the European elections. He resigned in June 2019, bowing to pressure to step down after a his party’s weak performance in the elections.[13]

In August 2021, Wauquiez decided not to run as the Republicans’s candidate in the 2022 presidential election.[14][15]

Ahead of the Republicans' 2022 convention, Wauquiez endorsed Éric Ciotti as the party's chairman.[16]

Although he had previously promised not to participate in a government coalition after the 2024 legislative election, LR ultimately joined the Barnier government, led by an LR member.[5] After Michel Barnier's ousting, LR joined the Bayrou government.

In February 2025, Wauquiez announced his candidacy to reclaim the presidency of The Republicans, in 2025 The Republicans leadership election. Wauquiez sparked outrage in France, even within his own conservative circles, after proposing to send migrants awaiting deportation to French overseas territory Saint Pierre and Miquelon.[17] However, he secured only 26% of the vote in the May 18 election, losing to Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau.[18]

Personal life

Wauquiez is known for wearing a red parka coat.[3]

List of mandates and functions

Governmental functions

Electoral mandates

National Assembly of France

  • Member of the National Assembly of France for Haute-Loire's 1st constituency
  • 2004-2007 (He became secretary of State in 2007) / Since 2012
  • Elected 2004 (by-election)
  • Reelected 2007 and 2012.

Regional Council

President of the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes : since 2016

Municipal Council

Mayor of Le Puy-en-Velay : 2008-2016 (Resignation). Reelected in 2014.

Municipal councillor of Le Puy-en-Velay : 2008-2016 (Resignation). Reelected in 2014.

Notes and references

Notes

References

References

  1. 1."Laurent Wauquiez dénonce "la myopie politique" de Martine Aubry". Les Échos (in French). 13 May 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  2. 2.Matthieu Goar (10 December 2017). "Laurent Wauquiez prend la tête du parti Les Républicains". Le Monde. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  3. 3.[3.2]"France's centre-right offers no serious opposition to Emmanuel Macron". The Economist. 12 October 2017.
  4. 4."Laurent Wauquiez démissionne de la présidence des Républicains". Le Figaro. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  5. 5.[5.2]"Laurent Wauquiez est le nouveau président des Républicains à l'Assemblée Nationale". France 3 (in French). 10 July 2024.
  6. 6."Biographie de Laurent Wauquiez". ESR (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  7. 7."Laurent Wauquiez va redonner des cours à l'EM Lyon". Le Figaro Etudiant (in French). 14 September 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  8. 8.[8.2][8.3]"Laurent Wauquiez: The hardliner leading France's Les Republicains farther right - France 24". France 24. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  9. 9."Laurent Wauquiez entre au gouvernement comme secrétaire d'Etat à l'Emploi". ladepeche.fr (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  10. 10."Same-sex marriage: Laurent Wauquiez calls on the government to consult". BFMTV. 4 November 2025.
  11. 11.Goar, Matthieu (10 December 2017). "Laurent Wauquiez élu président du parti Les Républicains". Le Monde.fr (in French). ISSN 1950-6244. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  12. 12.Anne-Sylvaine Chassany (10 December 2017), France’s Republicains elect former EU affairs minister as leader Financial Times.
  13. 13.Harriet Agnew (2 June 2019), Leader of France’s centre-right party quits after dismal elections Financial Times.
  14. 14.Grégoire Poussielgue (26 August 2021), Présidentielle 2022 : Wauquiez renonce, Ciotti et Barnier se lancent Les Echos.
  15. 15.Victor Mallet (27 August 2021), Michel Barnier makes bid for French presidency Financial Times.
  16. 16.Victor Boiteau (30 November 2022), Présidence LR : Wauquiez réaffirme son soutien à Ciotti Libération.
  17. 17."French presidential hopeful sparks outrage with bizarre remote island migrant plan". The Independent. 9 April 2025.
  18. 18.(18 May 2025), Bruno Retailleau est élu président du parti Les Républicains avec 74,31% des voix France Info.