Marielle de Sarnez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marielle de Sarnez
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De Sarnez in 2008
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| Minister for European Affairs | |
| In office 17 May 2017 – 19 June 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Édouard Philippe |
| Preceded by | Harlem Désir |
| Succeeded by | Nathalie Loiseau |
| Member of the National Assembly for Paris's 11th constituency |
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| In office 21 June 2017 – 13 January 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Pascal Cherki |
| Succeeded by | Maud Gatel |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 20 July 1999 – 17 May 2017 |
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| Constituency | Île-de-France |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 March 1951 Paris, France |
| Died | 13 January 2021 (aged 69) Paris, France |
| Cause of death | Leukemia |
| Political party | Democratic Movement (2008–2021) |
| Other political affiliations |
Union for French Democracy (1978–2008) |
Marielle de Sarnez (27 March 1951 – 13 January 2021) was a French politician. She served as the Secretary of State for European Affairs. This job meant she helped manage France's relationships with other European countries. She worked under Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.
Marielle de Sarnez was a member of the Union for French Democracy (UDF) party. In 2008, she joined the Democratic Movement (MoDem). She was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1999 to 2017. She became Minister for European Affairs in 2017. She resigned after about a month due to some questions about payments. However, she was soon elected to represent Paris in the National Assembly.
De Sarnez strongly believed in a united Europe. She was a centrist, meaning she held moderate political views. She worked closely with François Bayrou, who was the leader of her party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marielle de Sarnez was born in Paris, France, on 27 March 1951. She grew up in a family with connections to French politics. Her father, Olivier de Sarnez, was a key aide to the Interior Minister. Her mother worked at the Élysée Palace, which is the home of the French President.
Despite her family's background, Marielle joined the May 1968 student protests. She was still a high school student at the time. She was even asked to leave her Catholic girls' school. After finishing high school, de Sarnez started working in retail.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
In 1973, Marielle de Sarnez began working part-time for a political party. She met important people like Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who later became prime minister. She helped with the 1974 French presidential election campaign. She even created popular T-shirts for the candidate, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. He won the election, and de Sarnez quickly moved up in her career.
Later, she felt that the new government was moving too far to the right. She wanted them to work more with other parties. In 1978, she helped create the Union for French Democracy (UDF). This party aimed to be a central force in French politics.
Working with François Bayrou
Marielle de Sarnez met François Bayrou in the UDF party. They worked together very closely for 40 years. Bayrou once said, "I'm her and she is me," showing how close they were. She became his deputy and later his private office director. This was a very important role for a woman without a special degree.
De Sarnez was known as a great organizer. She managed Bayrou's campaigns when he ran for president in 2007 and 2012. He did not win, but their party gained more support. In 2007, Bayrou formed a new centrist party called the Democratic Movement (MoDem). De Sarnez became its First Vice-President.
In the 2017 French presidential election, de Sarnez and Bayrou supported Emmanuel Macron. He was a new centrist candidate, and he won the election.
Focus on Europe
Marielle de Sarnez was very dedicated to the idea of a united Europe. In 1999, she became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). She represented the Île-de-France region. She served as an MEP until 2017.
As an MEP, she worked on important committees, like the Committee on Culture and Education. She supported the Erasmus program, which helps students study in other European countries. She also helped expand it to include students from outside Europe. In 2009, she wrote a book called A Brief Dictionary for Loving Europe. It explained why she believed in a strong and fair Europe.
In May 2017, de Sarnez became the French Minister for European Affairs. However, soon after, there were questions about payments made to her assistants. Both she and François Bayrou resigned from their government roles. Despite this, de Sarnez was elected to the National Assembly a few days later.
Representing Paris
On 18 June 2017, Marielle de Sarnez was elected to the National Assembly. She represented the 11th constituency of Paris. She became the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee. In this role, she helped guide France's relationships with other countries. She served in this position until her death in 2021. After she passed away, Maud Gatel took her place as the deputy.
Personal Life and Legacy
Marielle de Sarnez was a private person. She had two children with her husband, Philippe Augier, but they later separated. She was known for her simple style, often wearing jeans and Converse sneakers.
Marielle de Sarnez died on 13 January 2021, at the age of 69. She passed away from leukemia in a hospital in Paris. Many French leaders, from different political parties, expressed their sadness. They remembered her as a key figure in French politics. The National Assembly held a moment of silence for her. Le Monde newspaper wrote that "One of the pillars of the house of centrism has fallen."
Images for kids
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De Sarnez in 2008
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De Sarnez during her first week in the National Assembly in 2017
