Xavier Bertrand
Encyclopedia
Xavier Bertrand is a French politician and Minister of Labour, Employment and Health. He was Minister of Health
for almost two years in Dominique de Villepin
's government under President Jacques Chirac
, then Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity
in François Fillon
's second government. He played a foremost role in Nicolas Sarkozy
's presidential campaign in 2007.
, in the Marne
département, of the Champagne-Ardenne
région of France, Xavier Bertrand is the son of Jean-Pierre Bertrand, a bank executive and of Madeleine Bedin, a bank employee.
Bertrand studied in Reims
, where he obtained a masters in public law, then a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (DESS) in local administration.
Insurance agent by profession, Bertrand married Emmanuelle Gontier, advisor in human resources on 11 July 1998. He is the father of three children, two of whom are twins.
He has been a member of the Grand Orient of France since 1995.
, and quickly went into politics.
In 1992, he led the campaign for the 'no' to the Maastricht Treaty
in his department, the Aisne
in the region of Picardy
. He was at the time assistant to the mayor of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
. He was one of the pioneers of the 'Saint-Quentin beach', an event similar to Paris-Plage.
After having been, from 1997 to 2002, parliamentary assistant to Jacques Braconnier, senator of the Aisne, he was elected deputy at the Assemblée Nationale on 16 June 2002 for the 18th legislature (2002–2007), in the second circonscription of the Aisne.
In 2003, Alain Juppé
, president for the Union for a Popular Movement
(UMP), made him responsible for leading the debate and explaining the reform of the pensions during a "Tour of France". He was chosen as a representative of this law project at the Assemblée Nationale. He was also during this period a part of the 'Club de la boussole,' a group of deputies who called themselves loyal to the then President Jacques Chirac
and the then Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin
.
During this period, he gained credit and got noticed in the right-wing political milieux. On 31 March 2004, when Raffarin named his third government, he was named Junior Health Minister to the Health Insurance. Under his Senior Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy
, he led the reform on the health insurance. Later on, he pronounced himself strongly in favour of a European Constitution
for the referendum on 29 May 2005.
After the majority of the French voters' "no" to the referendum, Raffarin resigned as Prime Minister. Under the new PM, Dominique de Villepin
, encouraged by the former one, Bertrand became the new Senior Minister for Health as Douste-Blazy transferred to Foreign Affairs Minister.
His mandate as Health Minister was marked by the chikungunya
epidemic and the prohibition to smoke in public places, ratified in 2004.
Xavier Bertrand announced his support to UMP presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy
on 29 September 2006. He is named Sarkozy's official spokesperson on 15 January 2007. He quit the government on 26 March to devote himself fully to the campaign.
On 18 May 2007, he was named Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity in the new Prime Minister François Fillon
's government. On 19 June 2007 he was re-named Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity in Fillon's second government after the first one handed in its resignation the day before for rehandling after government no.2 Alain Juppé
, Minister of Ecology and Development and only 'Ministre d'État' (Senior Minister), resigned after having lost in the legislative race to deputy of Bordeaux
.
Minister of Labour, Employment and Health : Since 2010.
Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity : 2007–2009.
Minister of Health and Solidarity : 2005–2007.
Secretary of State for Health Insurance : 2004–2005.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Aisne
(2nd constituency) : 2002–2004 (Became minister in 2004) / Reelected in 2007, but he stays minister / 2009–2010. Elected in 2002, reelected in 2007.
General Council
General councillor of Aisne
: 1998–2002 (Resignation).
Municipal Council
Mayor of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
: Since 2010.
Deputy-mayor of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
: 1995–2010. Reelected in 2001, 2008.
Municipal councillor of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
: Since 1989. Reelected in 1995, 2001, 2008.
Agglomeration community Council
Vice-president of the Agglomeration community of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
: 2001–2008.
Member of the Agglomeration community of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
: Since 1995. Reelected in 2001, 2008.
Minister of Health (France)
Minister of Health and Solidarity is currently a cabinet position in the Government of France. The health portfolio oversees the healthcare public services and the health insurance part of the French Social Security...
for almost two years in Dominique de Villepin
Dominique de Villepin
Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007....
's government under President Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
, then Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity
Minister of Social Affairs (France)
The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment (French: Ministre des Affaires sociales et de l'emploi is a cabinet member in the Government of France. The position was originally known as Minister of Labor...
in François Fillon
François Fillon
François Charles Armand Fillon is the Prime Minister of France. He was appointed to that office by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. He served initially until 13 November 2010 when he resigned from being prime minister before a planned cabinet reshuffle.On 14 November 2010, Sarkozy...
's second government. He played a foremost role in Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
's presidential campaign in 2007.
Family and studies
Born on 21 March 1965 in Châlons-sur-MarneChâlons-en-Champagne
Châlons-en-Champagne is a city in France. It is the capital of both the department of Marne and the region of Champagne-Ardenne, despite being only a quarter the size of the city of Reims....
, in the Marne
Marne
Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
département, of the Champagne-Ardenne
Champagne-Ardenne
Champagne-Ardenne is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northeast of the country, bordering Belgium, and consists of four departments: Aube, Ardennes, Haute-Marne, and Marne. The region is famous for its sparkling white wine . Its rivers, most of which flow west, include the...
région of France, Xavier Bertrand is the son of Jean-Pierre Bertrand, a bank executive and of Madeleine Bedin, a bank employee.
Bertrand studied in Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, where he obtained a masters in public law, then a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (DESS) in local administration.
Insurance agent by profession, Bertrand married Emmanuelle Gontier, advisor in human resources on 11 July 1998. He is the father of three children, two of whom are twins.
He has been a member of the Grand Orient of France since 1995.
Political career
Bertrand was at the early age of 16 already a militant for the Rally for the Republic (RPR)Rally for the Republic
The Rally for the Republic , was a French right-wing political party. Originating from the Union of Democrats for the Republic , it was founded by Jacques Chirac in 1976 and presented itself as the heir of Gaullism...
, and quickly went into politics.
In 1992, he led the campaign for the 'no' to the Maastricht Treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
in his department, the Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
in the region of Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
. He was at the time assistant to the mayor of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
. He was one of the pioneers of the 'Saint-Quentin beach', an event similar to Paris-Plage.
After having been, from 1997 to 2002, parliamentary assistant to Jacques Braconnier, senator of the Aisne, he was elected deputy at the Assemblée Nationale on 16 June 2002 for the 18th legislature (2002–2007), in the second circonscription of the Aisne.
In 2003, Alain Juppé
Alain Juppé
Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011...
, president for the Union for a Popular Movement
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
(UMP), made him responsible for leading the debate and explaining the reform of the pensions during a "Tour of France". He was chosen as a representative of this law project at the Assemblée Nationale. He was also during this period a part of the 'Club de la boussole,' a group of deputies who called themselves loyal to the then President Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
and the then Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Jean-Pierre Raffarin is a French conservative politician and senator for Vienne.Jean-Pierre Raffarin served as the Prime Minister of France from 6 May 2002 to 31 May 2005, resigning after France's rejection of the referendum on the European Union draft constitution. However, after Raffarin...
.
During this period, he gained credit and got noticed in the right-wing political milieux. On 31 March 2004, when Raffarin named his third government, he was named Junior Health Minister to the Health Insurance. Under his Senior Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy
Philippe Douste-Blazy
Philippe Douste-Blazy is a French centre-right politician. He served as Minister for Health , Minister of Culture and Foreign Minister in the cabinet of Dominique de Villepin .Douste-Blazy is also a cardiologist and Christian Democrat politician from Lourdes...
, he led the reform on the health insurance. Later on, he pronounced himself strongly in favour of a European Constitution
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe , , was an unratified international treaty intended to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union...
for the referendum on 29 May 2005.
After the majority of the French voters' "no" to the referendum, Raffarin resigned as Prime Minister. Under the new PM, Dominique de Villepin
Dominique de Villepin
Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007....
, encouraged by the former one, Bertrand became the new Senior Minister for Health as Douste-Blazy transferred to Foreign Affairs Minister.
His mandate as Health Minister was marked by the chikungunya
Chikungunya
Chikungunya virus is an insect-borne virus, of the genus Alphavirus, that is transmitted to humans by virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes. There have been recent breakouts of CHIKV associated with severe illness...
epidemic and the prohibition to smoke in public places, ratified in 2004.
Xavier Bertrand announced his support to UMP presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
on 29 September 2006. He is named Sarkozy's official spokesperson on 15 January 2007. He quit the government on 26 March to devote himself fully to the campaign.
On 18 May 2007, he was named Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity in the new Prime Minister François Fillon
François Fillon
François Charles Armand Fillon is the Prime Minister of France. He was appointed to that office by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. He served initially until 13 November 2010 when he resigned from being prime minister before a planned cabinet reshuffle.On 14 November 2010, Sarkozy...
's government. On 19 June 2007 he was re-named Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity in Fillon's second government after the first one handed in its resignation the day before for rehandling after government no.2 Alain Juppé
Alain Juppé
Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011...
, Minister of Ecology and Development and only 'Ministre d'État' (Senior Minister), resigned after having lost in the legislative race to deputy of Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
.
Political career
Governmental functionsMinister of Labour, Employment and Health : Since 2010.
Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity : 2007–2009.
Minister of Health and Solidarity : 2005–2007.
Secretary of State for Health Insurance : 2004–2005.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
(2nd constituency) : 2002–2004 (Became minister in 2004) / Reelected in 2007, but he stays minister / 2009–2010. Elected in 2002, reelected in 2007.
General Council
General councillor of Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
: 1998–2002 (Resignation).
Municipal Council
Mayor of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
: Since 2010.
Deputy-mayor of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
: 1995–2010. Reelected in 2001, 2008.
Municipal councillor of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
: Since 1989. Reelected in 1995, 2001, 2008.
Agglomeration community Council
Vice-president of the Agglomeration community of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
: 2001–2008.
Member of the Agglomeration community of Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
: Since 1995. Reelected in 2001, 2008.