Valérie Létard

Valérie Létard (French pronunciation: [valeʁi letaʁ]; born 13 October 1962) is a French politician of the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI) who has been serving as Minister of Housing in the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier since September 2024. She previously served in junior cabinet positions in the government of François Fillon from 2007 to 2010.

Valérie Létard
Létard in 2013
Minister of Housing and Urban Renovation
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 September 2024
Prime Minister	Michel Barnier
Preceded by	Guillaume Kasbarian (Housing) Sabrina Agresti-Roubache (Urban Development)
Member of the National Assembly for Nord's 21st constituency
In office 8 July 2024 – 21 October 2024
Preceded by	Béatrice Descamps
Succeeded by	Salvatore Castiglione
Senator for Nord
In office 14 December 2010 – 2 October 2023
In office 1 October 2001 – 19 July 2007
Vice President of the Senate
In office 4 October 2017 – 2 October 2023
President	Gérard Larcher
Secretary of State for Climate
In office 23 June 2009 – 13 November 2010
President	Nicolas Sarkozy
Prime Minister	François Fillon
Secretary of State for Solidarity
In office 19 June 2007 – 23 June 2009
President	Nicolas Sarkozy
Prime Minister	François Fillon
Departmental Councillor of Nord
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 2021
Constituency	Canton of Valenciennes
Personal details
Born	Valérie Decourrière (1962-10-13) 13 October 1962 (age 62) Orchies, France
Political party	UDI (2012–present)
Other political affiliations	PSD (until 1995) FD (1995–1998) UDF (1998–2007) LC-NC (2007–2014)
Parent	Francis Decourrière (father)

Political career

Early career

Since 10 April 2008, Létard has been the president of the Valenciennes Agglomeration Community, elected with 83 percent of the vote.^[1]

Career in government

Létard served in the government of Prime Minister François Fillon under President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, first as Secretary of State for Solidarity (2007-2009)^[2] and later for Climate (2009-2010).^[3] During her time in office, she launched the government’s campaign in 2009 to warn potential victims of forced marriages and female genital mutilation.^[4]

Member of the Senate, 2010–2023

In the Senate, Létard served on the Committee on Social Affairs and the Committee on Economic Affairs.^[5]

On 1 October 2011 Létard was a candidate for the Presidency of the Senate, against the outgoing president, Gérard Larcher (UMP) and Jean-Pierre Bel (PS). She received 29 votes.^[6]

Ahead of the Republicans’ 2016 primaries, Létard endorsed Alain Juppé as the party’s candidate for 2017 presidential elections. In March 2017, in the context of the Fillon affair, she called on LR candidate François Fillon to withdraw his candidacy.

Following the 2017 legislative elections, Létard reportedly refused offers to become Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in Prime Minister Édouard Philippe’s government.^[7] On 4 October 2017 she was elected vice-president of the French Senate instead, under the leadership of Gérard Larcher.

Minister of Housing and Urban Renovation, 2024–present

On 21 September 2024, Létard appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Renovation in the government of Michel Barnier.^[8]