{ "id": "epd2m1bz51", "slug": "valerie-pecresse", "title": "Valérie Pécresse", "updated": "2026-10-12", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians", "label": "Western European politicians", "api_url": 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"https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians.politicians-since-1945.legislators-and-party-leaders.alpha-m-to-r" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Valérie Pécresse is a French politician who has led the Regional Council of Île-de-France since 2015 and ran for The Republicans in the 2022 presidential election.", "snippet": "Valérie Pécresse is a French politician who has led the Regional Council of Île-de-France since 2015 and ran for The Republicans in the 2022 presidential election.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians.politicians-since-1945.legislators-and-party-leaders.alpha-m-to-r", "markdown": "# Valérie Pécresse\n\nValérie Pécresse (born 1967) is a French politician who has served as President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France since 2015 and leads the movement Soyons libres.[1](https://fr.headtopics.com/news/valerie-pecresse-se-positionne-sur-dragon-ball-le-voile-87412883) A member of The Republicans (Les Républicains, LR), she was her party's candidate in the 2022 presidential election and previously served as a government minister under [Nicolas Sarkozy](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicolas-sarkozy) and [François Fillon](https://www.edgepedia.org/francois-fillon).[2](https://www.franceinfo.fr/elections/presidentielle/valerie-pecresse-met-en-garde-contre-la-fragmentation-de-la-droite-lors-de-la-presidentielle-2027-apres-sa-defaite-douloureusement-vecue-en-2022_8170487.html)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | The Republicans (Les Républicains, LR); also leader of Soyons libres (SL)[1](https://fr.headtopics.com/news/valerie-pecresse-se-positionne-sur-dragon-ball-le-voile-87412883) |\n| Current office | President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France; Leader of Soyons libres[1](https://fr.headtopics.com/news/valerie-pecresse-se-positionne-sur-dragon-ball-le-voile-87412883) |\n| Previous offices | Deputy for Yvelines (first elected 2002; re-elected 2007 and 2012); Minister of Higher Education and Research (2007); Minister of the Budget, Public Accounts, and State Reform, government spokesperson (from June 30, 2011); President of Île-de-France Mobilités (elected president of the STIF in January 2016; the authority adopted the Île-de-France Mobilités name in 2017)[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) |\n| Born | 1967[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nPécresse has been a member of Les Républicains (LR) and was the party's candidate in the 2022 presidential election.[2](https://www.franceinfo.fr/elections/presidentielle/valerie-pecresse-met-en-garde-contre-la-fragmentation-de-la-droite-lors-de-la-presidentielle-2027-apres-sa-defaite-douloureusement-vecue-en-2022_8170487.html) She also leads Soyons libres (SL).[1](https://fr.headtopics.com/news/valerie-pecresse-se-positionne-sur-dragon-ball-le-voile-87412883) Earlier, she participated in the creation of the UMP in 2002 alongside Jérôme Monod and Alain Juppé, served as the UMP's deputy secretary general in charge of studies from 2002 to 2004, and as the party's spokesperson from 2004 to 2007.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nPécresse was born in 1967.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) She began her career as an auditor at the Conseil d'État, serving as a government commissioner specializing in internet law, the rights of people with disabilities, and hospital liability.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) After the 1997 dissolution of the National Assembly, she joined [Jacques Chirac](https://www.edgepedia.org/jacques-chirac)'s cabinet at the Élysée as a technical advisor in charge of studies, forecasts, and information technologies.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france)\n\n## Career\n\nPécresse was first elected to the National Assembly in 2002 as deputy for Yvelines, where she specialized in family, education, and research matters.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) She was re-elected in 2007 and 2012.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) After Nicolas Sarkozy's victory in the 2007 presidential election, she was appointed Minister of Higher Education and Research, charged with carrying out a reform giving universities greater autonomy and reforming the research sector.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france)\n\nOn June 30, 2011, she was appointed [Minister](https://www.edgepedia.org/minister-government) of the Budget, Public Accounts, and State Reform, and spokesperson for the government of François Fillon. In that role she worked on reducing the budget deficit and public expenditures, and set up a VAT scheme against delocalization intended to reduce the cost of labor.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france)\n\nElected to the Île-de-France Regional Council for the first time in 2004, she was president of the opposition group there from 2010 to 2015.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) She has presided over the Regional Council of Île-de-France since December 18, 2015, and became president of the STIF in January 2016; the authority was renamed Île-de-France Mobilités in 2017.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) In June 2025, a reshuffled regional executive was installed with five delegated presidents instead of one; Geoffroy Didier remained delegated president in charge of artificial intelligence.[4](https://www.echoiledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-elargit-sa-majorite/) In December 2025, the [Île-de-France](https://www.edgepedia.org/ile-de-france) region joined Regions4, a network the region described as amplifying its European and international engagement.[5](https://regions4.org/news/bienvenue-dans-regions4-entretien-avec-valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france/)\n\n## Electoral history\n\nIn the 2015 regional elections, Pécresse won 43.8% of the vote and became President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France on December 18, 2015.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) She was re-elected for a second term on July 2, 2021, after winning the regional elections with 45.9% of the vote.[3](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france) She was the Les Républicains candidate in the 2022 presidential election, which she describes as a defeat she \"douloureusement vécue\" (Edgepedia translation: \"painfully experienced\").[2](https://www.franceinfo.fr/elections/presidentielle/valerie-pecresse-met-en-garde-contre-la-fragmentation-de-la-droite-lors-de-la-presidentielle-2027-apres-sa-defaite-douloureusement-vecue-en-2022_8170487.html)\n\n## Issues specific to Pécresse\n\nOn August 31, 2026, appearing on franceinfo, Pécresse said the conditions were not met to hold a primary on the right before the 2027 presidential election. Initially \"favorable\" to a primary, she said that eight months before the election it was \"trop tard pour l'organiser de manière sereine\" (Edgepedia translation: \"too late to organize it serenely\"), and that two conditions were missing: \"Que tout le monde accepte d'y participer, et qu'elle ait lieu suffisamment tôt pour permettre de recoller les morceaux\" (Edgepedia translation: \"That everyone agrees to take part, and that it be held early enough to allow the pieces to be put back together\"). She called for unity, saying \"la fragmentation c'est l'élimination\" (Edgepedia translation: \"fragmentation is elimination\").[2](https://www.franceinfo.fr/elections/presidentielle/valerie-pecresse-met-en-garde-contre-la-fragmentation-de-la-droite-lors-de-la-presidentielle-2027-apres-sa-defaite-douloureusement-vecue-en-2022_8170487.html) She said [Bruno Retailleau](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruno-retailleau), the candidate designated by her party, \"représente des idées qui sont en grande partie les miennes\" (Edgepedia translation: \"represents ideas that are largely mine\").[2](https://www.franceinfo.fr/elections/presidentielle/valerie-pecresse-met-en-garde-contre-la-fragmentation-de-la-droite-lors-de-la-presidentielle-2027-apres-sa-defaite-douloureusement-vecue-en-2022_8170487.html)\n\nOn Sud Radio on March 10, 2026, discussing the 2026 municipal elections in Paris, she said, \"À Paris, le seul visage de l'alternance, c'est Rachida Dati\" (Edgepedia translation: \"In Paris, the only face of alternation is Rachida Dati\"), and warned that if the right disperses it could lose an election within reach.[6](https://www.sudradio.fr/linvite-politique/valerie-pecresse-lr-a-paris-le-seul-visage-de-lalternance-cest-rachida-dati)\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Veil in public spaces\n\nPécresse has declared her opposition to a proposal by the Rassemblement national to ban wearing the veil in public space, saying such a measure would be disproportionate and contrary to republican principles of individual freedom.[1](https://fr.headtopics.com/news/valerie-pecresse-se-positionne-sur-dragon-ball-le-voile-87412883)\n\n### Immigration and security\n\nPécresse has said Retailleau has proposals to put forward on subjects including immigration and security, and has called for a return of order to the borders, the streets, the public accounts, and the public services.[1](https://fr.headtopics.com/news/valerie-pecresse-se-positionne-sur-dragon-ball-le-voile-87412883) • [2](https://www.franceinfo.fr/elections/presidentielle/valerie-pecresse-met-en-garde-contre-la-fragmentation-de-la-droite-lors-de-la-presidentielle-2027-apres-sa-defaite-douloureusement-vecue-en-2022_8170487.html)\n\n### Europe\n\nOn franceinfo, Pécresse said, \"La France doit être à l'avant-garde de la construction européenne\" (Edgepedia translation: \"France must be at the forefront of European construction\"), and called for strengthening Europe.[7](https://politique-france.info/articles/valerie-pecresse-a-franceinfo-une-droite-en-quete-de-survie-face-a-macron)\n\n### Public finances and energy prices\n\nOn Sud Radio, discussing a possible mechanism to ease fuel taxes, Pécresse said, \"La France n'a plus les moyens de faire des chèques à crédit\" (Edgepedia translation: \"France can no longer afford to write checks on credit\"), adding that any such mechanism must be temporary and financed.[6](https://www.sudradio.fr/linvite-politique/valerie-pecresse-lr-a-paris-le-seul-visage-de-lalternance-cest-rachida-dati)\n\n### Ecological transition\n\nSpeaking on franceinfo about regional infrastructure projects, Pécresse said, \"Nous investissons massivement dans la transition écologique\" (Edgepedia translation: \"We are investing massively in the ecological transition\").[7](https://politique-france.info/articles/valerie-pecresse-a-franceinfo-une-droite-en-quete-de-survie-face-a-macron)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Valérie Pécresse se positionne sur Dragon Ball, le voile, l'Ukraine et la présidentielle](https://fr.headtopics.com/news/valerie-pecresse-se-positionne-sur-dragon-ball-le-voile-87412883)\n2. [Valérie Pécresse met en garde contre \"la fragmentation\" de la droite lors de la présidentielle 2027](https://www.franceinfo.fr/elections/presidentielle/valerie-pecresse-met-en-garde-contre-la-fragmentation-de-la-droite-lors-de-la-presidentielle-2027-apres-sa-defaite-douloureusement-vecue-en-2022_8170487.html)\n3. [Valérie Pécresse, présidente de la Région Île-de-France](https://www.iledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france)\n4. [À la Région, Valérie Pécresse élargit sa majorité](https://www.echoiledefrance.fr/valerie-pecresse-elargit-sa-majorite/)\n5. [Bienvenue dans Regions4 : entretien avec Valérie Pécresse](https://regions4.org/news/bienvenue-dans-regions4-entretien-avec-valerie-pecresse-presidente-de-la-region-ile-de-france/)\n6. [Valérie Pécresse : \"Le seul visage de l'alternance, c'est Dati\"](https://www.sudradio.fr/linvite-politique/valerie-pecresse-lr-a-paris-le-seul-visage-de-lalternance-cest-rachida-dati)\n7. [Valérie Pécresse à franceinfo : une droite en quête de survie face à Macron](https://politique-france.info/articles/valerie-pecresse-a-franceinfo-une-droite-en-quete-de-survie-face-a-macron)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › Western European politicians › Politicians since 1945 › Legislators and party leaders › Surnames M to R*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026; Oct 12, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/valerie-pecresse", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/valerie-pecresse.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Valérie Pécresse\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/valerie-pecresse. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Valérie Pécresse](https://www.edgepedia.org/valerie-pecresse)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/valerie-pecresse](https://www.edgepedia.org/valerie-pecresse). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Valérie Pécresse\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/valerie-pecresse. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Valérie Pécresse is a French politician who has led the Regional Council of Île-de-France since 2015 and ran for The Republicans in the 2022 presidential election." }