Bruno Retailleau

{{infobox officeholder

| name = Bruno Retailleau

| image = Bruno Retailleau.png

| caption = Retailleau in 2019

| office1 = Minister of State{{efn|Since 23 December 2024.}}
Minister of the Interior

| primeminister1 = Michel Barnier
François Bayrou

| term_start1 = 21 September 2024

| predecessor1 = Gérald Darmanin

| office3 = Senator for Vendée

| term_start3 = 1 October 2004

| term_end3 = 1 October 2024

| office2 = President of The Republicans group
in the Senate

| term_start2 = 7 October 2014

| term_end2 = 30 September 2024

| predecessor2 = Jean-Claude Gaudin

| successor2 = Mathieu Darnaud

| office4 = President of the Regional Council
of Pays de la Loire

| term_start4 = 18 December 2015

| term_end4 = 13 September 2017

| predecessor4 = Jacques Auxiette

| successor4 = Christelle Morançais

| office5 = President of the General Council of Vendée

| term_start5 = 30 November 2010

| term_end5 = 1 April 2015

| predecessor5 = Philippe de Villiers

| successor5 = Yves Auvinet

| office6 = Member of the National Assembly
for Vendée's 4th constituency

| term_start6 = 26 November 1994

| term_end6 = 12 June 1997

| predecessor6 = Philippe de Villiers

| successor6 = Philippe de Villiers

| office7 = General councillor of Vendée
for the canton of Mortagne-sur-Sèvre

| term_start7 = 3 October 1988

| term_end7 = 1 April 2015

| predecessor7 = Gérard Brosset

| successor7 = Cécile Barreau
Guillaume Jean

| birth_name = Bruno Daniel Marie Paul Retailleau

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|11|20|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Cholet, France

| otherparty = Movement for France {{small|{{nobr|(1994–2010)}}}}
Independent {{small|(2010–2012)}}
Union for a Popular Movement {{small|(2012–2015)}}

| party = The Republicans {{small|{{nobr|(2015–present)}}}}

| alma_mater = University of Nantes
Sciences Po

| children = 3

}}

Bruno Daniel Marie Paul Retailleau ({{IPA|fr|bʁyno danjɛl maʁi pɔl ʁətajo}}; born 20 November 1960) is a French politician who was appointed Minister of the Interior in the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier on 21 September 2024. He retained the office the following 23 December in the government of François Bayrou with the senior title of Minister of State.

Retailleau represented the Vendée department in the National Assembly from 1994 to 1997 as Philippe de Villiers's substitute and in the Senate from 2004 to 2024. He presided over the Senate Republicans from 2014 to 2024. He also served as President of the General Council of Vendée from 2010 to 2015 and President of the Regional Council of Pays de la Loire from 2015 until 2017.

Following his appointment to the Barnier government, Retailleau was called its most influential figure.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-21 |title=Gouvernement : comment Bruno Retailleau, seul poids lourd de l'équipe Barnier, a décroché Beauvau |url=https://www.lopinion.fr/politique/gouvernement-comment-bruno-retailleau-seul-poids-lourd-de-lequipe-barnier-a-decroche-beauvau |access-date= |website=L'Opinion |language=fr |author=Corinne Lhaïk}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title="Il va y aller franco" : qui est le ministre de l’Intérieur Bruno Retailleau, seul véritable poids lourd du gouvernement Barnier ? |url=https://www.midilibre.fr/2024/09/22/il-va-y-aller-franco-qui-est-le-ministre-de-linterieur-bruno-retailleau-seul-veritable-poids-lourd-du-gouvernement-barnier-12213513.php |access-date=|website=Midi Libre |language=fr}} He swiftly announced a series of measures to "re-establish order" in France,{{Cite web |date=2024-09-23 |title=Gouvernement Barnier : Bruno Retailleau martèle son intention de «rétablir l’ordre» comme priorité numéro une |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/gouvernement-barnier-bruno-retailleau-martele-son-intention-de-retablir-l-ordre-comme-priorite-numero-une-20240923 |access-date=|website=Le Figaro |language=fr}} which were met with massive popular support and bolstered his position.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-26 |title=Les trois-quarts des Français approuvent les mesures proposées par Bruno Retailleau |url=https://www.odoxa.fr/sondage/les-trois-quarts-des-francais-approuvent-les-mesures-proposees-par-bruno-retailleau/ |access-date= |website=Odoxa |language=fr |author=}}{{Cite web |author1=Robin D'Angelo |author2=Alexandre Pedro |date=2024-12-10 |title=Comment Bruno Retailleau s’est rendu « incontournable » Place Beauvau, même pour les macronistes |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/12/10/comment-bruno-retailleau-s-est-rendu-incontournable-place-beauvau-meme-pour-le-camp-presidentiel_6439304_823448.html |access-date= |website=Le Monde.fr |language=fr }} After the fall of the Barnier government and during the formation of the Bayrou government, Retailleau was "at the heart of the political equation".{{Cite web |date=2024-12-18 |title=Bruno Retailleau : ni avec lui, ni sans lui |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/politique-societe/gouvernement/bruno-retailleau-ni-avec-lui-ni-sans-lui-2138604 |access-date= |website=Les Echos.fr |language=fr |author=Cécile Cornudet}}

Ideologically, Retailleau is on the right's hard, conservative and traditionalist wing.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=Cette fois, le macronisme a vraiment disparu |url=https://www.challenges.fr/politique/cette-fois-le-macronisme-a-vraiment-disparu_905858 |access-date= |website=Challenges.fr |language=fr |author=Maurice Szafran}} He has been vocal on the topic of immigration, denouncing "the French of paper" ("les Français de papier"), French citizens of foreign origin who lack integration, as well as that France has been "dispossessed of the control" of its borders in contemporary history. Ahead of his appointment as Interior Minister, he called for "less immigration, more security".

Early life and education

Bruno Retailleau was born on 20 November 1960 in Cholet, Maine-et-Loire, the son of parents who were grain merchants.{{Cite web |date=2017-11-17 |title=Les confidences de François Fillon à l'heure de passer le témoin à Bruno Retailleau |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2017/11/17/01002-20171117ARTFIG00240-les-confidences-de-francois-fillon-a-l-heure-de-passer-le-temoin-a-bruno-retailleau.php |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}{{Cite web |title=Bruno Retailleau - Who's Who |url=https://www.whoswho.fr/bio/bruno-retailleau_35502 |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=www.whoswho.fr |language=fr}} The elder in a family of 4 children, he grew up in Saint-Malô-du-Bois, a village in the bocage of Vendée, 7 kilometres from where the Puy du Fou historical theme park, launched by Philippe de Villiers, would emerge.{{Cite book |last=Beaucarnot |first=Jean-Louis |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1319654805 |title=Le tout politique 2022 : [origines, cousinages, personnalités] : [la face cachée de nos politiques] |date=2022 |publisher=l'Archipel |isbn=978-2-8098-4338-5 |edition=Nouvelle édition |location=Paris |oclc=1319654805}}{{Cite web |date=2021-01-19 |title=Le guide des mardis de l'Essec |url=https://www.lesmardis.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Tribune-Bruno-Retailleau.pdf}} Both his grandfather Lucien Retailleau and his father Michel Retailleau served as Mayor of Saint-Malô-du-Bois, from 1959 to 1965 and from 1965 to 1983, respectively.{{Cite web |date=1967-03-10 |quote="La partie commercialisation est en revanche assurée par un professionnel du marché des grains, en l’occurrence Michel Retailleau, dirigeant d’une graineterie familiale fondée par son père Lucien à Saint-Malo-du-Bois dans le canton de Mortagne-sur-Sèvre. La notabilité conférée par la profession de grainetier-semencier dans le monde agricole a d’ailleurs permis à Lucien Retailleau d’être élu maire de son village entre 1959 et 1965, mandat dans lequel lui a succédé son fils Michel lorsqu’est tourné le reportage de la télévision au silo de la CUMA en 1967, ce qui peut expliquer sa présence sur le tournage. Michel Retailleau va demeurer maire de Saint-Malo-des-Bois jusqu’en 1983, il est le père de Bruno Retailleau, élu président du Conseil régional des Pays-de-la-Loire en 2015 et président du groupe parlementaire des Républicains au Sénat en 2014 et président du Conseil général de Vendée de 2010 à 2015." |title=La récolte du maïs |url=https://fresques.ina.fr/olonne/fiche-media/Olonne00010/la-recolte-du-mais.html |access-date= |website=INA |language=fr}}

Retailleau graduated from Sciences Po in 1985, after a master's degree in economics at the University of Nantes.

Professional career

In 1985, he became deputy general manager of a local radio station, Alouette, then, from 1987 to 1994, general manager of the Sciencescom communication school, later integrated into Audencia Business School.{{Cite web |title=Histoire de la radio locale Alouette |url=http://www.schoop.fr/histos/alouette.php |website=schoop.fr |language=fr}} When the Grand Parc du Puy du Fou corporation was created, which manages the theme park associated with the "Cinéscénie", he became its first chairman of the board, as a close associate of De Villiers.{{Cite web |last=magazine |first=Le Point |date=2014-10-02 |title=Bruno Retailleau, du Puy-du-Fou, à la tête des sénateurs UMP |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/bruno-retailleau-du-puy-du-fou-a-la-tete-des-senateurs-ump-02-10-2014-1868777_20.php |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}

Political career

=Early beginnings=

A member of the Movement for France (MPF), founded by De Villiers, until 2010, Retailleau became the Vendée general councillor for the canton of Mortagne-sur-Sèvre in 1988, a position he retained until 2015.

=Member of the National Assembly =

Retailleau became the deputy in the National Assembly for the 4th constituency of Vendée in 1994 upon the election of De Villiers as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), a position he did not seek election to in the 1997 election, as De Villiers was running for his old seat.{{Cite news |date=1994-11-29 |title=Une élection législative partielle M. Retailleau succède à M. de Villiers en Vendée |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1994/11/29/une-election-legislative-partielle-m-retailleau-succede-a-m-de-villiers-en-vendee_3850330_1819218.html |access-date=2022-11-08}}

=Member of the Senate=

Instead, Retailleau joined the Senate in 2004, where from 2014 he presided over the Union for a Popular Movement group (renamed The Republicans group in 2015), after joining the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) of President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012.

In 2010, he succeeded De Villiers as President of the General Council of Vendée.

=President of the Regional Council of Pays de la Loire=

In the 2015 regional election, Retailleau led a list in Pays de la Loire with the support of The Republicans (LR) and the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI), which received over 42% of the second-round vote. He supported the Aéroport du Grand Ouest project.{{in lang|fr}} {{cite web|title=Découvrir Bruno Retailleau|url=http://www.retailleau2015.fr/bruno-retailleau/|access-date=2015-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009021616/http://www.retailleau2015.fr/bruno-retailleau/|archive-date=2015-10-09|url-status=dead}}{{in lang|fr}} {{cite web|title=Retailleau: " La ZAD de Notre-Dame-des-Landes est le symbole de l'affaissement de l'Etat "|url=http://www.publicsenat.fr/lcp/politique/retailleau-zad-notre-dame-des-landes-symbole-laffaissement-letat-1169448|website=Public Sénat|date=15 December 2015|access-date=2016-01-08}} On 18 December 2015, he became President of the Regional Council of Pays de la Loire, an office he resigned from in 2017 to focus on his activities in the Senate.

Earlier, Retailleau had held one of the regional council's vice presidencies from 1998 to 2004 under François Fillon (until 2002) and Jean-Luc Harousseau.

=Positions within The Republicans=

In The Republicans' 2016 primary, Retailleau endorsed former Prime Minister François Fillon as the party's candidate for President of France in the 2017 election.Ludovic Vigogne (20 April 2016), [https://www.lopinion.fr/edition/politique/primaire-a-droite-liste-premiers-soutiens-parlementaires-101334 Primaire à droite: la liste des premiers soutiens parlementaires] L'Opinion. He subsequently joined Fillon's team as campaign coordinator.Brian Love (22 March 2017), [https://www.reuters.com/article/france-election/fillon-camp-decries-soap-opera-of-sleaze-reports-a-month-from-french-election-idUSL5N1GZ1LY Fillon camp decries "soap opera" of sleaze reports a month from French election] Reuters.

Ahead of The Republicans' 2019 leadership election, Retailleau announced that despite speculation he would not run for the party presidency, calling Christian Jacob the "consensual" candidate.Christophe Forcari (19 June 2019), [https://www.liberation.fr/france/2019/06/19/par-sens-du-devoir-bruno-retailleau-ne-briguera-pas-la-presidence-de-lr_1734883/ Par sens du «devoir», Bruno Retailleau ne briguera pas la présidence de LR] Libération.

Ahead of the 2022 presidential election, he announced he would also not run for the party nomination.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-27 |title=Présidentielle 2022 : Bruno Retailleau renonce à sa candidature |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/presidentielle-2022-bruno-retailleau-renonce-a-sa-candidature-27-08-2021-2440436_20.php |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Le Point |language=fr}} At The Republicans' primary in December 2021, he was part of the 11-member committee that oversaw the party's selection of its candidate in the upcoming election.Ludovic Vigogne (12 October 2021), [https://www.lopinion.fr/politique/congres-lr-apres-le-oui-de-bertrand-les-choses-serieuses-commencent Congrès LR: après le oui de Bertrand, les choses sérieuses commencent] L'Opinion.

On 2 September 2022, Retailleau announced his candidacy for the presidency of The Republicans.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-02 |title=Bruno Retailleau: "Je serai candidat à la présidence des Républicains" |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/bruno-retailleau-je-serai-candidat-a-la-presidence-des-republicains-20220902 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}} In an internal leadership vote, he was eventually defeated by Éric Ciotti on 11 December 2022.{{cite web |title=Éric Ciotti élu face à Bruno Retailleau à la présidence de LR |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/politique/article/eric-ciotti-elu-face-a-bruno-retailleau-a-la-presidence-de-lr_211393.html |website=Le Huffington Post |date=11 December 2022 |access-date=11 December 2022 |language=French}} Despite working closely with Ciotti following the latter's election as party president, Retailleau sided against him amid the 2024 The Republicans alliance crisis.{{cite web |title=Législatives: Bruno Retailleau Estime Qu'Éric Ciotti a Été "Dissous Dans Le Bloc du Rassemblement National" |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/elections/legislatives/legislatives-bruno-retailleau-estime-qu-eric-ciotti-a-ete-dissous-dans-le-bloc-du-rassemblement-national_AV-202406190281.html |website=BFM TV |date=19 June 2024 |access-date= |author=Salomé Robles |language=French}}

=Minister of the Interior, 2024–present=

On 21 September 2024, Retailleau was appointed Minister of the Interior in the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier, succeeding Gérald Darmanin.{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Direct. Gouvernement: l'équipe du Premier ministre Michel Barnier dévoilée |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/gouvernement/direct-gouvernement-barnier-a-transmis-a-macron-une-liste-de-noms-finalisee-une-annonce-esperee-avant-dimanche_LN-202409210117.html |website=BFMTV |access-date=2024-09-21}}{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Retailleau, Lecornu, Barrot... Voici la composition du nouveau gouvernement Barnier |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/retailleau-lecornu-moutchou-barrot-voici-la-composition-du-nouveau-gouvernement-barnier-20240921 |website=Le Figaro |date=2024-09-21 |access-date=2024-09-21}} His appointment marked a shift to the right;{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Bruno Retailleau à l'Intérieur, symbole d'une droite dure conservatrice |url=https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20240921-bruno-retailleau-figure-d-une-droite-conservatrice-et-irritant-de-la-macronie |website=France 24 |date=2024-09-21 |access-date= |author=}} shortly prior to his appointment, he had called for "less immigration, more security".{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Les Républicains conditionnent leur participation au gouvernement au programme de Barnier, affirme Wauquiez |url=https://www.europe1.fr/politique/les-republicains-conditionnent-leur-participation-au-gouvernement-au-programme-de-barnier-affirme-wauquiez-4266013 |website=Europe 1 |date=2024-09-06 |access-date=2024-09-21}}

Retailleau's first days as Interior Minister were marked by the murder of Philippine Le Noir de Carlan in Paris by a Moroccan illegal immigrant,{{Cite web |language=en |title=France's interior minister vows to introduce new immigration 'rules' after student murder|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20240925-france-s-interior-minister-vows-to-introduce-new-immigration-rules-after-student-murder |website=RFI.fr |date=2024-09-25 |access-date= |author=}} who had previously been convicted of rape and imprisoned, but was not deported following his release. After taking office, Retailleau proposed a number of measures to "take back control" of France's immigration policy,{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Immigration : Bruno Retailleau veut réduire drastiquement les régularisations |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/politique-societe/gouvernement/immigration-bruno-retailleau-veut-reduire-drastiquement-les-regularisations-2124396 |website=Les Echos.fr |date=2024-10-10 |access-date= |author=Hadrien Valat}} which were met by favourable polls. Ahead of introducing a bill on the subject, he demanded prefects order a "complete mobilisation" to "speed up the pace of deportations" of illegal migrants.{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Immigration : Retailleau serre la vis auprès des préfets pour « reprendre le contrôle » |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/immigration-la-circulaire-choc-de-retailleau-qui-serre-la-vis-pour-reprendre-le-controle-20241029 |website=Le Figaro |date=2024-10-29 |access-date= |author=Christophe Cornevin}}

His tenure made him "unavoidable" after the fall of the Barnier government. He was thus retained by François Bayrou when he succeeded Barnier, with Retailleau titled Minister of State.{{cite web | url = https://apnews.com/article/france-new-government-macron-ea2398230392fd433f4dd9ff11f20d83# | title = France has a new government. Now it must fix the budget while avoiding collapse | publisher = Associated Press | date = 23 December 2024 | access-date = 23 December 2024}}

Political positions

Retailleau states he belongs to a right-wing movement that does not compromise on its values.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-05 |title=Bruno Retailleau : ' Depuis 30 ans, la droite n'a pas suffisamment assumé les valeurs de droite ' |url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/article/politique/bruno-retailleau-depuis-30-ans-la-droite-n-a-pas-suffisamment-assume-les-valeurs |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Public Senat |language=fr}} A supporter of a clear opposition to President Emmanuel Macron's centrist politics, he refused any government agreement with Macron's party, Renaissance, in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Le candidat à la présidence de LR Bruno Retailleau au JDD : ' Je veux tout changer à droite ' |url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Politique/le-candidat-a-la-presidence-de-lr-bruno-retailleau-au-jdd-je-veux-tout-changer-a-droite-4144078 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=lejdd.fr |language=fr}} In 2024, he joined the Barnier government, a centre-right coalition government which includes Renaissance.{{Cite news |date=2024-09-21 |title=Macron names right-leaning French government under Michel Barnier |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/21/macron-names-french-government-to-be-led-by-michel-barnier |access-date=2024-09-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Regularly described as a liberal-conservative, Retailleau advocates major reforms of work, the state and the French social model, and calls for "a policy of civilisation" against wokeism.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-20 |title=Bruno Retailleau creuse son sillon à droite |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/politique-societe/politique/bruno-retailleau-creuse-son-sillon-a-droite-1002248 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Les Echos |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Albertini |first=Dominique |title=Bruno Retailleau : "Dire que la France souffre du libéralisme, c'est une mauvaise plaisanterie" |url=https://www.liberation.fr/france/2020/04/14/bruno-retailleau-dire-que-la-france-souffre-du-liberalisme-c-est-une-mauvaise-plaisanterie_1785139/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Libération |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Chiecchi |first=Jérôme Cordelier, Mégane |date=2021-04-17 |title=Bruno Retailleau : " Notre pays est majoritairement à droite " |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/retailleau-macron-a-confondu-l-autorite-et-le-narcissisme-17-04-2021-2422549_20.php |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Le Point |language=fr}} A proponent of a firmer response to security issues, Retailleau defends a "penal revolution" including measures such as the introduction of short prison sentences for the first acts of delinquency, the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility to 16 years and the suspension of social and family benefits to parents who do not assume their educational responsibilities.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-11 |title=Bruno Retailleau : " Si nous n'enclenchons pas une révolution pénale, nous aurons une insurrection électorale " |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/bruno-retailleau-si-nous-n-enclenchons-pas-une-revolution-penale-nous-aurons-une-insurrection-electorale-20210311 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}} Attached to national sovereignty, he regularly denounces the influence of jurisprudence such as that of the ECHR, was opposed to the Treaty of Lisbon and refuses any federalist push within the European Union.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-23 |title=Bruno Retailleau: "L'Europe des petites cuisines et des grandes dépendances" |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/politique/bruno-retailleau-l-europe-des-petites-cuisines-et-des-grandes-dependances-20200723 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}

In 2019, advocating for "an intellectual refoundation" of the right, Retailleau aimed to give back an ideological corpus to his political family and called on the right to seize new issues such as environmentalism, to which he devoted a book.{{Cite web |last=Dupont |first=Laureline |date=2019-03-28 |title=Bruno Retailleau, les idées à l'endroit |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/bruno-retailleau-les-idees-a-l-endroit-28-03-2019-2304359_20.php |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Vernay |first=Stéphane |date=2021-10-24 |title="La droite a une légitimité sur l'écologie", affirme Bruno Retailleau |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/environnement/entretien-la-droite-a-une-legitimite-sur-l-ecologie-affirme-bruno-retailleau-e0240420-34dc-11ec-8358-3d9f0f46f467 |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=Ouest-France |language=fr}}

In March 2024, Retailleau voted against an amendment that enshrined abortion in the Constitution.{{cite news |title=Scrutin public n°1 sur le projet de loi constitutionnelle relatif à la liberté de recourir à l'interruption volontaire de grossesse. |url=https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/16/scrutins/c1%20-%20Congr%C3%A8s#groupeRE |website=Assemblée nationale |date=4 March 2024}}

=Immigration=

Retailleau is a staunch opponent of immigration.{{cite news |title=Bruno Retailleau provoque le malaise chez les macronistes après ses propos sur l’Etat de droit et l’immigration |author=Claire Gatinois |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2024/10/01/bruno-retailleau-provoque-le-malaise-chez-les-macronistes-apres-ses-propos-sur-l-etat-de-droit-et-l-immigration_6340334_823448.html |work=Le Monde |date=1 October 2024}} He has called for constitutional changes so a referendum can be held on the matter.{{cite news |title=Immigration : Bruno Retailleau favorable à un référendum, critiqué par la gauche et la macronie |author= |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/politique-societe/gouvernement/immigration-bruno-retailleau-favorable-a-un-referendum-2122005 |work=Les Echos |date=30 September 2024 |lang=fr}} During one of the debates on an immigration bill in July 2024, which was introduced by his predecessor Gérald Darmanin, he stated "immigration is not an opportunity for France."{{cite news |title=IVG, immigration: Bruno Retailleau, a Minister of the Interior with conservative positions |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/gouvernement/ivg-immigration-bruno-retailleau-un-ministre-de-l-interieur-aux-positions-conservatrices_AN-202409220292.html |work=BFM TV |date=22 September 2024}} In 2023, following the Nahel Merzouk riots, Retailleau denounced a "regression towards the ethnic origins" of the rioters, adding that although they were French by citizenship, they were in his opinion not culturally so. He called citizens of foreign origin who lack integration "French of paper" ("Français de papier"). His statements received a substantial amount of criticism.{{cite news |title="Régression Vers Les Origines Ethniques": Retailleau Maintient Ses Propos Et Tacle Son Collègue Pradié |author=Baptiste Farge |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/les-republicains/regression-vers-les-origines-ethniques-retailleau-maintient-ses-propos-et-tacle-son-collegue-pradie_AN-202307130315.html |work=BFM TV |date=13 July 2023 |lang=fr}} He later stated that France had been "dispossessed of the control" of its borders, notably through European jurisprudence.{{cite news |title=Bruno Retailleau (LR) : « Le peuple français a été dépossédé de la maîtrise de ses frontières » |author1=Charles Sapin |author2=Sébastien Schneegans |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/bruno-retailleau-lr-le-peuple-francais-s-est-laisse-deposseder-de-la-maitrise-de-ses-frontieres-28-10-2023-2541082_20.php |work=Le Point |date=28 October 2023 |lang=fr}}

Upon becoming Minister of the Interior in 2024, he ordered the deportation of illegal immigrants from the overseas island of Mayotte to the DRC.{{cite news |title=French interior minister orders deportation flights to DRC |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2024/10/02/french-interior-minister-orders-deportation-flights-to-drc_6728007_5.html |work=Le Monde |date=2 October 2024}}{{cite news |title=France orders more deportation flights to Africa from Indian Ocean island of Mayotte |url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20241003-france-orders-more-deportation-flights-to-africa-from-indian-ocean-island-of-mayotte-bruno-retailleau-migrants |work=France 24 |date=3 October 2024}}{{cite news |title=French interior minister vows more deportation flights to DRC from Mayotte |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20241003-french-interior-minister-vows-more-deportation-flights-to-drc-from-mayotte |work=Radio France Internationale |date=3 October 2024}} In an interview with French daily newspaper Le Parisien on 10 October, Retailleau stated his intention in tightening the amount of illegal immigrants that can see their legal situation change to be admitted into French society.{{cite news |title=Bruno Retailleau veut durcir les conditions de régularisation de sans papiers |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/politique/gouvernement/bruno-retailleau-veut-durcir-les-conditions-de-regularisation-de-sans-papiers_AD-202410100143.html?at_brand=BFMTV&at_compte=BFMTV&at_plateforme=twitter&at_campaign=Fan_pages&at_medium=Community_Management |work=BFM TV |date=10 October 2024}}{{cite news |title=Immigration : Bruno Retailleau veut revenir sur la circulaire Valls qui permet de régulariser 30 000 clandestins chaque année |url=https://www.valeursactuelles.com/politique/immigration-bruno-retailleau-veut-revenir-sur-la-circulaire-valls-qui-permet-de-regulariser-30-000-clandestins-chaque-annee |work=Valeurs actuelles |date=10 October 2024}}

In October 2024, Retailleau asked to renegotiate the 1968 agreement with Algeria that governs immigration between Algeria and France.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-04 |title=Que prévoit l’accord de 1968 sur l’immigration entre la France et l’Algérie ? |url=https://www.lejdd.fr/politique/au-fait-cest-quoi-laccord-de-1968-entre-la-france-et-lalgerie-136559 |access-date=2024-11-28 |author=Baudouin Moucadel |website=lejdd.fr |language=fr}} He then said he was in favour of its repeal in November 2024, in view of the deterioration of relations between Algeria and France.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-28 |title=Immigration : le ministre de l’Intérieur Bruno Retailleau « favorable à la dénonciation de l’accord franco-algérien de 1968 » |url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/international/immigration-le-ministre-de-linterieur-bruno-retailleau-favorable-a-la-denonciation-de-laccord-franco-algerien-de-1968 |access-date=2024-11-29 |author=Romain David |website=Public Sénat |language=fr}}

=Foreign policy=

File:Home Secretary Yvette Cooper attends G7 in ItalyHome Secretary (54041968669).jpg Yvette Cooper, 2024]]

In a joint letter initiated by Norbert Röttgen and Anthony Gonzalez ahead of the 47th G7 summit in 2021, Retailleau joined some 70 legislators from Europe, the US and Japan in calling upon their leaders to take a tough stance on China and to "avoid becoming dependent" on the country for technology including artificial intelligence and 5G.Stuart Lau (25 January 2021), [https://www.politico.eu/article/g7-lawmakers-tell-leaders-to-stand-up-to-china/ G7 lawmakers tell leaders to ‘stand up’ to China] Politico Europe.

Following the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état, Retailleau joined forces with fellow Senators Christian Cambon and Roger Karoutchi on an open letter to President Macron in Le Figaro, criticising France's Africa policy and arguing that the failure of Operation Barkhane was in great part the reason why France and its economic, political and military presence have been rejected in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and the Central African Republic; the letter was signed by 91 other senators.[https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/monde/apres-la-francafrique-sommes-nous-condamnes-a-l-effacement-de-la-france-en-afrique-20230807 «Après la Françafrique, sommes-nous condamnés à l'effacement de la France en Afrique ?»] Le Figaro, 7 August 2023.Gavin Mortimer (9 August 2023), [https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/macron-cant-escape-blame-for-frances-failures-in-africa/ Macron can’t escape blame for France’s failures in Africa] The Spectator.

==Israel==

In 2019, Retailleau wrote to the Israeli ambassador to France to demand that Christians who live in Gaza be allowed to travel to Bethlehem and Jerusalem for Christmas.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-20 |title=Chrétiens de Gaza: Bruno Retailleau écrit à l’ambassadrice d’Israël en France |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/chretiens-de-gaza-bruno-retailleau-ecrit-a-l-ambassadrice-d-israel-en-france-20191220 |access-date= |author=Emmanuel Galiero |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}

Following the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war, Retailleau expressed strong support for Israel,{{Cite web |date=2024-05-21 |title=Mandat d’arrêt requis contre Benyamin Netanyahou : le Quai d’Orsay « se discrédite » avec son soutien à la CPI, selon Roger Karoutchi |url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/politique/mandat-darret-requis-contre-benyamin-netanyahou-le-quai-dorsay-se-discredite-avec-son-soutien-a-la-cpi-selon-roger-karoutchi |access-date= |author=Hugo Ruaud |website=Public Sénat |language=fr}} which has positioned him as an ally to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, echoing sentiments from France's right-leaning political factions.

Personal life

Married to a medical doctor, Retailleau is the father of three children.{{Cite journal |last=Grépinet |first=Mariana |date=2017-04-26 |title=" Les révélations de la campagne " |journal=Paris Match |pages=32–33 |language=fr}}

Passionate about horseback riding, Retailleau was spotted by Philippe de Villiers while participating as a volunteer rider in the "Cinéscénie" show at the Puy du Fou.{{Cite web |date=2018-08-17 |title=Bruno Retailleau, passionné d'équitation |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2018/08/17/01002-20180817ARTFIG00188-bruno-retailleau-passionne-d-equitation.php |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}{{Cite web |date=2016-06-07 |title=Pays de la Loire: Bruno Retailleau au scanner |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/region/pays-de-la-loire/pays-de-la-loire-bruno-retailleau-au-scanner_1798417.html |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=LExpress.fr |language=fr}} The creator of the show, who quickly made him his second-in-command, later entrusted him with the staging of the Cinescénie for nearly 25 years.{{Cite web |last=Emery |first=Audrey |date=2015-05-18 |title=Régionales 2015 : la face cachée de Retailleau |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/villes/la-face-cachee-de-retailleau-18-05-2015-1929201_27.php |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}{{Cite web |date=2015-12-10 |title=" Retailleau a été metteur en scène de la Cinéscénie " |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/retailleau-ete-metteur-en-scene-de-la-cinescenie-3911741 |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=ouest-france.fr |language=fr}}

Bibliography

=Books=

{{Cite book |last=Retailleau |first=Bruno |date=August 23, 2010 |title=Les entreprises de taille intermédiaire au coeur d'une nouvelle dynamique de croissance |publisher=La Documentation Française|location=Paris |language=French|page=170 |isbn=978-2110081629}}
{{Cite book |last=Retailleau |first=Bruno |date=March 20, 2019 |location=Paris|title=Refondation |language=French |publisher=Éditions de l'Observatoire |page=288 |isbn=979-1032906286}}
{{Cite book |last=Retailleau |first=Bruno |date=October 21, 2021 |location=Paris|title=Aurons-nous encore de la lumière en hiver ? |language=French |publisher=Éditions de l'Observatoire |page=140 |isbn=979-1032924266}}