Laure Darcos (born Laure Driant 27 November 1970 in

Neuilly-sur-Seine Neuilly-sur-Seine (; literally 'Neuilly on Seine'), also known simply as Neuilly, is a commune in the department of Hauts-de-Seine in France, just west of Paris. Immediately adjacent to the city, the area is composed of mostly select residentia ...

) is a French politician of Soyons Libres (SL) who has been a member of the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

since the

2017 elections The following elections occurred in 2017. Africa * 2017 Somali presidential election 8 February 2017 *2017 Gambian parliamentary election 6 April 2017 * 2017 Algerian legislative election 4 May 2017 *2017 Lesotho general election 3 June 2017 *2 ...

, representing Essonne.

Early life and education

Darcos is the great-granddaughter of Colonel

Émile Driant Émile Augustin Cyprien Driant (11 September 1855 – 22 February 1916) was a French writer, politician, and army officer. He was the first high-ranking casualty of the Battle of Verdun during World War I. Biography Born at Neufchâtel-sur-Aisn ...

and also a descendant of Georges Ernest Boulanger. Darcos obtained a degree in history from Paris-Sorbonne University (1993), before taking classes at the École du Louvre from 2005 to 2007. She is a graduate of IFA /

Sciences Po Paris , motto_lang = fr , mottoeng = Roots of the Future , type = Public research university''Grande école'' , established = , founder = Émile Boutmy , accreditation ...

, where she obtained a certificate (2015).

Early career

In 1990, Darcos began her career as a trainee in the ''

Le Quotidien de Paris ''Le Quotidien de Paris'' was a French newspaper founded in 1974 by . Along with ' and ', ''Le Quotidien de Paris'' made up the (Daily Press Group) which employed over 550 individuals," Philippe Tesson : « Mes trois critères d'appréciation » " ...

'', then in two political communication agencies (

Modus Vivendi ''Modus vivendi'' (plural ''modi vivendi'') is a Latin phrase that means "mode of living" or " way of life". It often is used to mean an arrangement or agreement that allows conflicting parties to coexist in peace. In science, it is used to descr ...

and P.O.L.I.S.). In 1994, Darcos became the parliamentary assistant of

Pierre Lequiller Pierre Lequiller (born December 4, 1949) was a member of the National Assembly of France. He represented the Yvelines department, as a member of the Union for a Popular Movement. He was the Member of Parliament for Yvelines's 4th constituency f ...

. From 1995 to 1997, she worked in the cabinet of Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research

François Bayrou François René Jean Lucien Bayrou (; born 25 May 1951) is a French politician who has presided over the Democratic Movement (MoDem) since he founded it in 2007. A centrist, he was a candidate in the 2002, 2007 and 2012 presidential elections. ...

. From 1997 to 1998, she was then in charge of the mission of the director of the book and reading, Jean-Sebastien Dupuit, before becoming parliamentary attaché of

Xavier Darcos Xavier Darcos (born 14 July 1947) is a French politician, scholar, civil servant and former Minister of Labour. An ''agrégé'' professor in literature and general inspector of the National Education system, he has been Mayor of Périgueux, ...

, senator of the Dordogne from 1998 to 2002. She served as assistant chief of staff to

when he was Minister of National Education.

Career in the private sector

Darcos then returned to the corporate world, as director of institutional relations for the Hachette Livre group from 2009 to 2016 and as member of the Hachette Group's France Executive Committee from 2013. She also served as vice-president of the Digital Commission of the National Union of Publishing.

Political career

In the 2015 departmental elections, Darcos was elected county councilor of Essonne (canton of Gif-sur-Yvette), then member of the permanent commission of the departmental council of Essonne. In the 2017 parliamentary elections Darcos ran for

Essonne's 5th constituency The 5th constituency of Essonne is a French legislative constituency in the Essonne ''département''. Description The 5th constituency of Essonne covers the north west corner of the department and includes the suburbs of Les Ulis and Orsay bot ...

but eventually lost against the mathematician Cédric Villani, the candidate of

La République En Marche! Renaissance (RE), previously known as La République En Marche ! (frequently abbreviated LREM, LaREM or REM; translated as "The Republic on the Move" or "Republic Forward"), or sometimes called simply En Marche ! () as its original name, is a l ...

(LREM). Darcos was elected Senator of Essonne during the senatorial elections of 2017, on September 24, 2017. In the Senate, she is a member of the Committee on Culture, Education and Communication. In February 2018, Darcos joined the Soyons Libres, a movement led by Valérie Pécresse.

Other activities

* Le Siècle, Member

Awards

* Chevalier dans l'ordre des Palmes académiques (2006) * Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettresdécret du Ministre de la Culture Frédéric Mitterrand du 7 mars 2012 (2012)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darcos, Laure 1970 births Living people Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Chevaliers of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques The Republicans (France) politicians Politicians from Île-de-France People from Neuilly-sur-Seine Senators of Essonne French Senators of the Fifth Republic Paris-Sorbonne University alumni 21st-century French women politicians Women members of the Senate (France)