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 governement of Prime Minister Michel Barnier since September 2024. She previously served as Secretary of State for Solidarity in the government of François Fillon from 2007 to 2010.

Valérie Létard
Létard in 2013
Minister of Housing and Urban Renovation
Assumed office
21 September 2024
Prime MinisterMichel Barnier
Preceded byGuillaume Kasbarian (Housing)
Sabrina Agresti-Roubache (Urban Development)
Member of the National Assembly
for Nord's 21st constituency
Assumed office
8 July 2024
Preceded byBéatrice Descamps
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
PresidentGérard Larcher
Secretary of State for Climate
In office
23 June 2009 – 13 November 2010
PresidentNicolas Sarkozy
Prime MinisterFrançois Fillon
Secretary of State for Solidarity
In office
19 June 2007 – 23 June 2009
PresidentNicolas Sarkozy
Prime MinisterFrançois Fillon
Departmental Councillor of Nord
Assumed office
1 July 2021
ConstituencyCanton of Valenciennes
Personal details
Born
Valérie Decourrière

(1962-10-13) 13 October 1962 (age 62)
Orchies, France
Political partyUDI (2012–present)
Other political
affiliations
PSD (until 1995)
FD (1995–1998)
UDF (1998–2007)
LC-NC (2007–2014)
ParentFrancis Decourrière (father)

Political career

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Member of the Senate, 2008–2024

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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

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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]

Later career

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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.[5]

Ahead of the Republicans2016 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.[6] On 4 October 2017 she was elected vice-president of the French Senate instead, under the leadership of Gérard Larcher.

On 21 September 2024, she appointed minister of Housing and Urban Renovation in the government of Michel Barnier.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Bruno Jeudy (16 November 2016), Jeannette Bougrab : "Je reste fidèle à Sarkozy" Paris Match.
  2. ^ Katrin Bennhold (20 June 2007), Sarkozy Reshuffles Cabinet After an Election Setback New York Times.
  3. ^ interview with Jean-Pierre Thiollet, France-Soir, 26 VII 2009, http://www.francesoir.fr/pratique/emploi/valerie-letard%C2%A0-“220000-emplois-verts-sont-creer-d’ici-2012”-40902.html Archived 2013-09-29 at archive.today
  4. ^ Sophie Hardach (14 April 2009), France warns against forced marriages, mutilation Reuters.
  5. ^ Noémie Bisserbe (3 October 2011), French Socialist Elected Speaker Wall Street Journal.
  6. ^ Laurent Decotte (16 May 2017), Ministre du Logement et de la Ville ? Valérie Létard (UDI) a dit non à Macron La Voix du Nord.
  7. ^ "Nouveau gouvernement : Valérie Létard, députée du Nord, nommée ministre du Logement et de la Rénovation urbaine". France Bleu (in French). 21 September 2024.
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