Biography
Early life and education
Claire O'Petit was born in Épinay-sur-Seine, located in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis where she remained during her youth. Her mother was a cook and member of the PCF, who left the party following the liberation, horrified by the fate reserved to the "shaved women" (women whose hairs were shaved in public because of suspected "horizontal collaboration" (having sex with German occupants) with the enemy), though remaining member of CGT.. Incumbent of a French professional in sewing, she worked most of her life as retailer, and started working at 17 until she retired. She held several types of job: shoe retailer on the Champs-Élysées, dog grooming, paramedic, sales representative, washing machine retailer, commercial for household appliances, etc.Career and early political involvement
She then completed a professional training and became business manager for a paramedical company, opening a dog grooming salon at the same time in Saint-Denis in the 1990s. After demonstrating against local tax on small shop and retailers assessed excessively in comparison to neighbouring cities, she got involved in activities for defense of local commercants and craftsmen defense in local structure. She chaired a retailers and craftsmen association from 1989 to her election as member of parliament.Media
Between 2005 and 2017, Claire O'Petit is a recurrent speaker at the French TV show ''Les Grandes Gueules'' on French channel RMC. She was notably noticed for her recurrent calls during the show, regularly lambasting taxes when still in office at her association. She intervenes on the set once or twice a week. Following her election, she only intervenes few times a month as a commentator.Business and legal issues
Condemnation for mismanagement
On 2 November 2016, Claire O'Petit is condemned by the Tribunal de commerce (France) of Bobigny to "une interdiction de diriger, gérer, administrer ou contrôler directement ou indirectement toute entreprise commerciale ou artisanale €¦pour une durée de cinq ans" (a five-years ban on directing, managing, administering or directly or indirectly controlling any commercial or craft enterprise), court judging her guilty of mismanagement causing bankruptcy of the ADCP company. She appealed the verdict. On 19 October 2017, the Court of Appeal of Paris partially confirm the first verdict, but reimbursement of troop costs are invalidated by the court.Political engagement
Socialist party and Modem
In 2001, Claire O'Petit is elected as a mayor candidate for theLREM MP
Claire O'Petit stands for LREM to theControversies
In November 2012, O'Petit provoked controversy by pronouncing anti-Muslim expressions on RMC: "Frankly speaking, when I see a bearded man wearing a djellaba crossing the street at red-light, I just want to accelerate I say". Newspapers notice her little participation to debates during her first months as MP. She responded stating that her absence was due to heath issues In 2019, she took position against the reduction of the number of MP, resolution advocated by her own party. In July 2017, she openly mocked complaints of opponents to cuts in housing benefits aimed to help students, assumed to finance the suppression of Impôt de solidarité sur la fortune saying: "If at 19 years old, 20 years old, 24 years old you start weeping because we remove to your purse 5 euros, what're you gonna do of your life ?". She added: "We must either cuts in expenses or we raise taxes ..There're no free money, everyone must participate." She also declared "Socialists are primary racists and serve out arabics.".References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Opetit, Claire 1949 births Living people Deputies of the 15th National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic La République En Marche! politicians 21st-century French women politicians People from Épinay-sur-Seine Women members of the National Assembly (France) Politicians from Île-de-France Members of Parliament for Eure