Laurent Wauquiez

Laurent Timothée Marie Wauquiez (born 12 April 1975) is a French politician who has presided over the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes since 2016. 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 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. Pundits have described him as moving the party to the right. 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.

Early life and education
Wauquiez graduated from the École normale supérieure 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). He worked as professor at Emlyon Business School.

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. He later served as Minister of European Affairs and of Higher Education. In 2012, he was re-elected to the National Assembly and became head of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in 2015.

On 10 December 2017, Wauquiez was elected as the president of The Republicans, winning over Maël de Calan and Florence Portelli. 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.

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

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

Personal life
Wauquiez is known for wearing a red parka coat.

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

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 in 2004 (by-election), reelected in 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.