François Baroin, French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry
On June 29, 2011, François Baroin was appointed Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry.
Initially Minister for the Budget, Public Accounts and State Reform since March 2010, François Baroin was promoted Minister for the Budget, Public Accounts, Civil Service and State Reform, as well as Government Spokesman in November 2010.
Born on June 21, 1965, François Baroin began his professional career in 1987 working with Edgar Faure, chairman of the Commission in charge of the French Revolution Bicentennial. He was then hired by Europe 1, one of the leading French radio broadcasters, and worked there as a political journalist from 1988 to 1992. In 2001, he became a lawyer at the Paris Bar.
François Baroin started his political ascent after being elected City Councillor for the city of Nogent sur Marne (Aube, France) in 1989: he then became Mayor of Troyes (Aube, France) in 1995 and has always been re-elected since then. First elected as Member of French Parliament for the third constituency of Aube in 1993, he has managed to keep his seat until today after three consecutive general elections.
François Baroin became Jacques Chirac’s Spokesman during the 1995 presidential campaign. Following Chirac’s victory, he was promoted to Government Spokesman. During the 2000s, François Baroin became a leading figure of the UMP Party and eventually served as Political Advisor for its President in 2004. In 2005, François Baroin joined the Government as Minister for Overseas Territories: He briefly replaced presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy as Minister of the Interior from March to May 2007.