Valérie Pécresse

Born on July 14th, 1967, Valérie Pécresse began her career as an auditor at the State Council, and government commissioner, specialised in Internet law, disability law and hospital liability. Following the dissolution of the French government in 1997, she became involved with Jacques Chirac and joined his cabinet as technical adviser in charge of studies, forecasting and information technologies. She also took part in the creation of the UMP, the french center right party, in 2002 alongside Jérôme Monod and Alain Juppé. At the parliament, where she was elected MP for the first time in 2002, Valérie Pécresse specialised in issues relating to family, education and research. She also became involved in the workings of the UMP as deputy secretary general in charge of studies from 2002 to 2004, and then as the party’s spokeswoman between 2004 and 2007. Following the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as President of the Republic in 2007, Valérie Pécresse was appointed Minister for Higher Education and Research to carry out one of the most important reforms of the five-year term: university autonomy and research reform. On the 30th of June 2011, Valérie Pécresse was appointed Minister for the Budget, Public Accounts and State Reform and spokesperson for François Fillon's government. At Bercy in 2011, she ensured the historic reduction in the deficit and public spending. She also pushed through the anti-delocalisation VAT, which lowers labour costs, the key to employment competitiveness. She was re-elected as MP for her constituency in 2007 and 2012. First elected at the head of Paris Region in 2004, she chaired the opposition group from 2010 to 2015. Valérie Pécresse has chaired the Paris Region since 18 December 2015, following her victory in the regional elections with 43.8% of the vote at the time. She was re-elected for a second term on July 2nd 2021, after winning the regional elections with 45.9% of the vote. Valerie Pecresse resigned from the civil service in November 2015, and then from her mandate as Member of Parliament for Yvelines in January 2016, thereby fulfilling her campaign commitment made in 2015 to devote herself exclusively to the Region, without holding multiple mandates. She is a Knight of the Legion of Honour. She has also been awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee for her role in organising the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2024. She has also received the International Paralympic Committee's Appreciation Award.