Catherine Vautrin
MinisterMinister of the Armed Forces and Veterans
Renaissance · France
Profil scrit en English
Catherine Vautrin, born 26 July 1960 in Reims, is a French politician who has served as Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans since October 2025, a position she retained in Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government following the 26 February 2026 reshuffle. A former RPR, UMP and Les Républicains figure who later aligned with the presidential majority, she previously held the combined Labour, Health, Solidarity and Families portfolio (2024-2025) and the Partnership with Territories and Decentralisation portfolio (2024). She was a member of the National Assembly for Marne's 2nd constituency, a vice-president of the Assemblée nationale, and president of Grand Reims from 2014 to 2024.
Istorgia electorala
French municipal / intercommunal election (Reims / Grand Reims)
Municipal councillor (Reims) and president of Grand Reims2020-03
Elected
Re-elected to the Reims municipal council and re-elected president of the Grand Reims urban community in July 2020 (held until January 2024). Per HATVP she also served as deputy mayor of Reims (adjointe au maire) during 2020-2024.
French legislative election
Member of the National Assembly, Marne's 2nd constituency2017-06
Defeated
cunter Aina Kuric
Lost her seat in the 2017 legislative election; succeeded by Aina Kuric.
Funtauna:en.wikipedia.orgFrench legislative election
Member of the National Assembly, Marne's 2nd constituency2012-06
Elected
Re-elected deputy for Marne; subsequently re-elected vice-president of the National Assembly.
French municipal election (Reims)
Mayor of Reims2008-03
Defeated (second round)
25.19% (first round); 43.93% (second round)
cunter Adeline Hazan (Union of the Left)
Lost the Reims mayoral race to Adeline Hazan; subsequently sat as an opposition municipal councillor.
Funtauna:en.wikipedia.orgFrench legislative election
Member of the National Assembly, Marne's 2nd constituency2007-06
Elected
56.93%
Re-elected deputy for Marne's 2nd constituency.
Funtauna:en.wikipedia.orgFrench legislative election
Member of the National Assembly, Marne's 2nd constituency2002-06
Elected
Elected UMP deputy for Marne's 2nd constituency, succeeding Jean-Claude Étienne. Her seat passed to her substitute (Arnaud Robinet) when she entered government in 2004.
Carriera professiunala
Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans
Oct 12, 2025Government of France (Lecornu government)
Appointed Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu; retained the position in the 26 February 2026 reshuffle. Has championed an updated military programming law (+36 billion euros to 2030) and a 2026 defence budget of about 57.1 billion euros.
Minister of Labour, Health, Solidarity and Families
Dec 23, 2024 – Oct 12, 2025Government of France (Bayrou government, then first Lecornu government)
Headed the combined social super-ministry under Prime Minister François Bayrou; nominally reappointed in the short-lived first Lecornu government of 5-6 October 2025.
Minister of Partnership with Territories and Decentralisation
Sep 21, 2024 – Dec 23, 2024Government of France (Barnier government)
Held the territories/decentralisation portfolio under Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
Minister of Labour, Health and Solidarity
Jan 11, 2024 – Sep 21, 2024Government of France (Attal government)
Returned to national government under Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, heading a combined social super-ministry.
President
Aug 31, 2022 – Jan 2024Agence Nationale pour la Rénovation Urbaine (ANRU)
Appointed by presidential decree as president of the national urban renewal agency.
President of the Communauté d'Agglomération Reims Métropole, then President of the Communauté urbaine du Grand Reims
Apr 2014 – Jan 16, 2024Grand Reims
Headed the Reims metropolitan intercommunal authority (Reims Métropole, becoming Grand Reims in 2017); re-elected in July 2020.
National Treasurer of the UMP
Dec 2012 – 2015Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP)
Appointed treasurer of the UMP under party chair Jean-François Copé.
Vice-President of the National Assembly (later First Vice-President)
Oct 1, 2008 – Jun 20, 2017Assemblée nationale
Elected vice-president of the Assemblée nationale in 2008; served as First Vice-President from 2011 and again after 2012, also chairing internal delegations (communication/press, then international activities).
Minister Delegate for Social Cohesion and Parity
Jun 2, 2005 – May 15, 2007Government of France (Villepin government)
Ministerial role under Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin; led 2005 measures on French-language requirements for long-term residence permits and on housing for the homeless.
Secretary of State for Senior Citizens
Oct 28, 2004 – Jun 2, 2005Government of France (Raffarin government)
Junior ministerial post in charge of policy for the elderly.
Secretary of State for Integration and Equal Opportunities
Mar 31, 2004 – Oct 28, 2004Government of France (Raffarin government, under minister Jean-Louis Borloo)
First government post, appointed under President Jacques Chirac.
Deputy Director General
1999 – 2002Regional Council of Champagne-Ardenne
Left the private sector to become deputy director general in charge of operational directions and services at the regional council.
Product manager, then Director of Marketing and Communication (France, then continental Europe)
1986 – 1999CIGNA (American insurance group)
Worked for 13 years in the private sector at insurer CIGNA, rising from product manager to director of marketing and communication.
Furmaziun
University (France); listed as Paris Descartes University (Paris V)
Master's degree (maîtrise) · Business law (droit des affaires)
Vautrin holds a master's degree in business law. Official ministry and Wikipedia biographies cite the qualification; the English-language Wikipedia infobox names Paris Descartes University as her alma mater. The graduation year is not specified in the sources reviewed.
Legislaziun impurtanta
French-language requirement for long-term (10-year) residence permits
Immigration / integration2005
As Minister Delegate for Social Cohesion and Parity, Vautrin led 2005 efforts to introduce a French-language requirement for immigrants applying for a 10-year residence permit, part of the integration ('contrat d'accueil') policy of the period.
Impurtanza: Early step in linking residence rights to language/integration requirements in France.
Decree banning smoking in certain public spaces frequented by young people
Public health2025
During her tenure over the health portfolio, France adopted a ban on smoking in areas where young people gather, including beaches, parks, public gardens and the vicinity of schools and sports facilities, effective from July 2025.
Impurtanza: Notable public-health measure extending France's tobacco-control framework to many outdoor public spaces.
Updated military programming law (revision of the loi de programmation militaire 2024-2030)
Defence / public finances2025
As Minister of the Armed Forces, Vautrin defended a revision of the military programming law adding about 36 billion euros to the defence trajectory through 2030 in response to heightened threats. The bill was adopted at first reading in the National Assembly (reported 440 votes to 122, with support from the presidential camp, the National Rally and the Socialist Party).
Impurtanza: Major acceleration of French defence spending; the 2026 defence budget was set at roughly 57.1 billion euros, an increase of about 6 billion euros year on year, prioritising air defence, anti-drone capability and space.