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 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.
After 2024 legislative election, Wauquiez became president of the LR group in the National Assembly.
Contents
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). 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.
In 2012, Wauquiez opposed legalisation of same-sex marriage.
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.
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. 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. However, he secured only 26% of the vote in the May 18 election, losing to Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau.
Personal life
Wauquiez is known for wearing a red parka coat.
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
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.
President of the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes : since 2016
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.
