Martine Aubry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martine Aubry
Aubry in 2012
First Secretary of the Socialist Party
In office 26 November 2008 – 12 September 2012*
Preceded by	François Hollande
Succeeded by	Harlem Désir
Mayor of Lille
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 March 2001
Preceded by	Pierre Mauroy
Minister of Social Affairs
In office 2 June 1997 – 18 October 2000
Prime Minister	Lionel Jospin
Preceded by	Jean-Claude Gaudin
Succeeded by	Élisabeth Guigou
Minister of Labour, Employment and Vocational Training
In office 15 May 1991 – 28 March 1993
Prime Minister	Édith Cresson Pierre Bérégovoy
Preceded by	Jean-Pierre Soisson
Succeeded by	Michel Giraud
Member of the National Assembly for Nord's 5th Constituency
In office 12 June 1997 – 4 July 1997
Preceded by	Bernard Davoine
Succeeded by	Bernard Davoine
Personal details
Born	Martine Louise Marie Delors (1950-08-08) 8 August 1950 (age 74) Paris, France
Political party	Socialist Party
Parent	Jacques Delors (father)
Alma mater	Pantheon-Assas University Sciences Po École Nationale d'Administration
Signature
Harlem Désir served as Acting Leader from 30 June 2011 – 16 October 2011.

Martine Aubry (born 8 August 1950) is a well-known French politician. She was the leader of the French Socialist Party from 2008 to 2012. Since 2001, she has been the Mayor of Lille, a major city in France. She is also the first woman to hold this important position in Lille.

Martine Aubry's father, Jacques Delors, was also a famous politician. He served as France's Minister of Finance and was the President of the European Commission.

Aubry joined the Socialist Party in 1974. She became the Minister of Labour in 1991. Later, in 1997, she became the Minister of Social Affairs. She is famous for creating the "35-hour workweek" law in France. This law reduced the normal full-time working week from 39 to 35 hours. She also helped create a law for universal health care coverage in France.

In 2001, Aubry left her government job to become the Mayor of Lille. She was re-elected Mayor of Lille in 2008 with a large number of votes. In 2008, she was chosen to lead the Socialist Party. In 2011, she ran for president but lost to François Hollande.

Martine Aubry's Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Paris

Martine Aubry was born in Paris, France, on August 8, 1950. Her parents were Jacques Delors and Marie. Her father was a very important figure in French and European politics.

Studying for a Career

Aubry went to school in Paris. She earned a degree in economic science from Panthéon-Assas University. This education helped her understand how countries manage their money and resources.

She continued her studies at other well-known schools. She got diplomas from the Institut des Sciences Sociales du Travail and Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (also known as Sciences Po) in 1972. From 1973 to 1975, she studied at the École nationale d'administration (ÉNA). This school trains future leaders for public service in France.

Martine Aubry's Professional Career

Working in Public Service

In 1975, Martine Aubry started working as a civil administrator. She worked at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. During this time, she was also active in a trade union called the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT).

She became a professor at ÉNA in 1978. This meant she helped teach and train new public servants. From 1980 to 1981, she also worked with the State Council, which gives legal advice to the French government.

Working in Government Ministries

After François Mitterrand became President of France in 1981, Aubry held several roles. She worked in the Ministry of Social Affairs under different ministers.

After the Socialist Party lost the election in 1986, Aubry returned to the State Council. From 1989 to 1991, she worked as an Assistant Director at a company called Pechiney. This experience gave her insight into the business world.

Martine Aubry's Political Career

Minister of Labour and Employment: 1991–1993

In 1991, Martine Aubry was appointed Minister of Labour, Employment and Vocational Training. She served in this role until March 1993.

After the Socialist Party lost power in 1986, Aubry started a foundation called Fondation Agir Contre l'Exclusion (FACE). This foundation works to fight against social exclusion. In 1995, she became the first deputy to the Mayor of Lille. This was her first step into local politics in the Nord region.

When Lionel Jospin became the Socialist candidate for president in 1995, Aubry was his campaign spokesperson. After Jospin lost the election, he became the leader of the Socialist Party. He offered Aubry the second most important position, but she chose not to take it.

Martine Aubry is known for being direct and demanding. She once said, "I'm up-front, and I'm not a hypocrite. But I think I'm much less hard than many politicians. I may even be too sensitive."

Minister of Employment and Solidarity: 1997–2000

In 1997, Aubry was elected as a member of the National Assembly. She was then appointed Minister of Employment and Solidarity. This was a very important role, second only to the Prime Minister.

To help reduce unemployment, she created a new type of job contract for young people in 1997. These jobs, called Emplois-jeunes, received financial support from the government. In 1998, a major law she championed was passed: the 35-hour workweek. This law aimed to create more jobs by sharing work among more people.

In 1999, another important law was passed: the Couverture maladie universelle (CMU). This program helps everyone in France get their medical expenses reimbursed through social security. For people with low incomes, the CMU provides full health coverage, so they don't need extra private insurance.

Running for President in 2012

On June 28, 2011, Martine Aubry announced that she would run for president. She wanted to be the Socialist Party's candidate in the 2012 presidential election.

She competed against François Hollande in the second round of the party's primary election. On October 16, Hollande won the nomination with 56.6% of the votes.

After her defeat, Aubry strongly supported François Hollande's presidential campaign. Many thought she might become his Prime Minister if he won. However, after Hollande was elected President, he chose Jean-Marc Ayrault for the role. Aubry decided not to join Ayrault's government.

Later Political Views

After 2014, Martine Aubry sometimes disagreed with the government's choices. She asked for changes in economic policy in October 2014.

In 2015, she said that the government's decisions were partly causing low poll numbers for her party. She criticized Emmanuel Macron, who was the Minister of Economy at the time.

Before the Socialist Party's primary elections in 2017, Aubry supported Benoît Hamon as the party's candidate for president.

Martine Aubry's Political Roles

Here are some of the important political positions Martine Aubry has held:

• Government Roles
  • Minister of Labor, Employment and Training: 1991–1993
  • Minister of Employment and Solidarity: 1997–2000 (she resigned to become Mayor of Lille)
• Elected Positions
  • National Assembly
    • Member of the National Assembly of France for Nord (5th constituency): elected in 1997
  • City Council of Lille
    • Mayor of Lille since 2001. She was re-elected in 2014 and 2020.
    • Deputy-mayor of Lille: 1995–2001
    • Municipal councillor of Lille since 1995. She was re-elected in 2001 and 2008.
  • Lille Métropole Urban Community Council
    • President of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole: 2008-2014
    • Vice-president of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole: 1995–2008. She was re-elected in 2001.
    • Member of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole since 1995. She was re-elected in 2001 and 2008.
• Political Party Role
  • • First Secretary (leader) of the Socialist Party (France): 2008–2012

See also

In Spanish: Martine Aubry para niños