Overview
From humble beginnings, Xavier Bertrand later settled permanently in Saint-Quentin, in Aisne department, which he made the focus of his political life.
After graduating in public law from the University of Reims, he initially chose a career in business and became an insurance broker.
He would then be Member of Parliament for the Aisne constituency for many years for the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party. His energy and communication skills earned him quick recognition: he became the party's spokesperson and then entered government.
He was appointed Minister of Health by president Jacques Chirac.
Under Nicolas Sarkozy, he held several top positions, including Minister of Labour, Employment and Health. In the latter position he pushed a socially-focused but firm agenda, often described as popular, grassroots right-wing.
In 2015, he became president of the former Nord–Pas-de-Calais–Picardie region, now Hauts-de-France.
Xavier Bertrand has it that the RN and LFI parties need scapegoats in order to exist. In Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise party, an increasing number of its executives are adopting an anti-semitic discourse. As for the National Rally, many within the party will continue with their insidious conflation of Muslims with Islamists. This is unacceptable!
Prospective Prime Minister in the summer of 2024, Xavier Bertrand looks back on the key moments of his career: his broken reporting relationship with Nicolas Sarkozy, rivalries within the party, orchestrated attacks against and by Marine Le Pen, presidential campaigns led by the right in 2017 and 2022, not to mention his defeat in the primary, he leaves nothing out.