Laurent Wauquiez

Laurent Timothée Marie Wauquiez (French pronunciation: [lɔʁɑ̃ timɔte maʁi vokje]; born 12 April 1975) is a French politician who has 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.

Laurent Wauquiez
Wauquiez in 2021
President of the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
In office 4 January 2016 – 23 August 2024
Preceded by	René Souchon (Auvergne) Jean-Jack Queyranne (Rhône-Alpes)
Succeeded by	Fabrice Pannekoucke
President of The Republicans
In office 10 December 2017 – 2 June 2019[a]
Preceded by	Nicolas Sarkozy
Succeeded by	Christian Jacob
Minister of Higher Education and Research
In office 29 June 2011 – 10 May 2012
Prime Minister	François Fillon
Preceded by	Valérie Pécresse
Succeeded by	Geneviève Fioraso
Minister for European Affairs
In office 14 November 2010 – 29 June 2011
Prime Minister	François Fillon
Preceded by	Pierre Lellouche
Succeeded by	Geneviève Fioraso
Mayor of Le Puy-en-Velay
In office 14 March 2008 – 29 January 2016
Preceded by	Arlette Arnaud-Landau
Succeeded by	Michel Chapuis
Spokesperson of the Government
In office 18 June 2007 – 18 March 2008
Prime Minister	François Fillon
Preceded by	Christine Albanel
Succeeded by	Luc Chatel
Member of the National Assembly for Haute-Loire's 1st constituency
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 July 2024
Preceded by	Isabelle Valentin
In office 20 June 2012 – 21 June 2017
Preceded by	Jean-Pierre Marcon
Succeeded by	Isabelle Valentin
In office 5 July 2004 – 19 July 2007
Preceded by	Jacques Barrot
Succeeded by	Jean-Pierre Marcon
President of the Republican Right group in the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 July 2024
Preceded by	Olivier Marleix
Personal details
Born	Laurent Timothée Marie Wauquiez (1975-04-12) 12 April 1975 (age 50) Lyon, France
Political party	LR (2015–present)
Other political affiliations	UMP (2004–2015)
Spouse	Charlotte Deregnaucourt ​ ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	2
Alma mater	École normale supérieure Panthéon-Sorbonne University Sciences Po École nationale d'administration

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

Minister of Higher Education and Research

2011-2012

Minister for European Affairs

2010-2011

Secretary of State to the Prime Minister, Government Spokesperson

2007-2008

Secretary of State for Employment

2008-2010

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.