Franck Riester

{{infobox officeholder

| name = Franck Riester

| image = Franck Riester 2019 (cropped).jpg

| office = Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, the Francophonie, and French Nationals Abroad

| primeminister = Gabriel Attal

| term_start = 8 February 2024

| term_end = 21 September 2024

| predecessor = Olivier Becht (Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness)
Chrysoula Zacharopoulou (Francophonie)

| successor = Sophie Primas (Foreign Trade and French People Abroad)
Thani Mohamed Soilihi (Francophonie)

| office1 = Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament

| term_start1 = 4 July 2022

| term_end1 = 11 January 2024

| primeminister1 = Élisabeth Borne

| predecessor1 = Olivier Véran

| successor1 = Marie Lebec

| office2 = Member of the National Assembly
for Seine-et-Marne's 5th constituency

| term_start2 = 8 July 2024

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 = Patricia Lemoine

| successor2 =

| term_start3 = 22 June 2022

| term_end3 = 22 July 2022

| predecessor3 = Patricia Lemoine

| successor3 = Patricia Lemoine

| term_start4 = 20 June 2007

| term_end4 = 16 November 2018

| predecessor4 = Guy Drut

| successor4 = Patricia Lemoine

| office5 = President of Agir

| term_start5 = 16 September 2018

| term_end5 =

| predecessor5 = Position established

| successor5 =

| office6 = Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness

| term_start6 = 6 July 2020

| term_end6 = 4 July 2022

| primeminister6 = Jean Castex
Élisabeth Borne

| predecessor6 = Position established

| successor6 = Olivier Becht

| office7 = Minister of Culture

| term_start7 = 16 October 2018

| term_end7 = 3 July 2020

| primeminister7 = Édouard Philippe

| predecessor7 = Françoise Nyssen

| successor7 = Roselyne Bachelot

| office8 = President of the UDI and Independents group in the National Assembly

| term_start8 = 27 June 2017

| term_end8 = 16 November 2018

| predecessor8 = Philippe Vigier

| successor8 = Jean-Christophe Lagarde

| alongside8 = Stéphane Demilly (2017) and Jean-Christophe Lagarde {{nowrap|(2017–2018)}}

| office9 = Mayor of Coulommiers

| term_start9 = 15 March 2008

| term_end9 = 10 July 2017

| predecessor9 = Guy Drut

| successor9 = Ginette Motot

| birth_name = Franck Alix Georges Riester

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1974|01|03}}

| birth_place = Paris, France

| nationality = French

| party = Renaissance {{nowrap|(2022–present)}}

| otherparty = Rally for the Republic {{nowrap|(until 2002)}}
Union for a Popular Movement {{nowrap|(2002–2015)}}
The Republicans {{nowrap|(2015–2017)}}
Agir {{nowrap|(2017–present)}}

| alma_mater = ISG Business School
ESSEC Business School

}}

Franck Alix Georges Riester (born 3 January 1974) is a French politician of Renaissance (RE). He has represented the fifth constituency of Seine-et-Marne in the National Assembly since 2024, having previously held the seat from 2017 to 2018 and briefly in 2022.

Riester has held various ministerial roles throughout his career. In 2024, he was appointed Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, the Francophonie, and French Nationals Abroad in the Attal government. Prior to this, he served as Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament (2022–2024) in the Borne government and as Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness (2020–2022) in both the Castex and Borne governments. From 2018 to 2020, he was Minister of Culture in the second Philippe government.{{cite news | title=Gouvernement Castex en direct : Darmanin nommé ministre de l'intérieur, Dupond-Moretti garde des sceaux et Bachelot à la culture | website=Le Monde.fr | date=2020-07-06 | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/live/2020/07/06/en-direct-la-composition-du-gouvernement-de-jean-castex-annoncee-a-19-heures_6045386_823448.html | language=fr}}{{cite web

|url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/elections/2007/resultats/LDD_DEP.csv.asp

|access-date=4 July 2010

|title=LISTE DÉFINITIVE DES DÉPUTÉS ÉLUS À L'ISSUE DES DEUX TOURS

|language=fr

|publisher=National Assembly of France

}}

Riester is the president of Agir, which merged into Renaissance as an "associate party" in 2022.

Early career

After a stint at accounting firm Arthur Andersen, Riester managed his family's Peugeot car dealership.[https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2007/07/25/01002-20070725ARTFIG90162-franck_riester_fait_ses_classes_au_palais_bourbon.php Franck Riester fait ses classes au Palais Bourbon] Le Figaro, July 25, 2007.

Political career

=Member of the National Assembly=

Riester was a member of the National Assembly from 2007 until 2018. During his time in parliament, he served on the Committee on the Committee on Economic Affairs (2007-2009), the Committee on European Affairs (2009-2011) and the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Education (2009-2018).[http://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/deputes/fiche/OMC_PA335758 Franck Riester] National Assembly. In his first term from 2007 until 2012, he was the UMP parliamentary group's youngest member. He was also the parliament's rapporteur on the 2009 HADOPI law.Damien Leloup (September 16, 2009), [https://www.lemonde.fr/technologies/article/2009/09/16/hadopi-respecte-les-droits-de-la-defense-affirme-riester_1241133_651865.html Hadopi "respecte les droits de la défense", affirme Riester] Le Monde.

In the 2009 European elections, Riester was the national campaign manager for Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP party.Patrick Roger (May 5, 2009), [https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2009/05/05/franck-riester-benjamin-aux-dents-longues_1189108_823448.html Franck Riester, benjamin aux dents longues] Reuters. During Sarkozy’s unsuccessful campaign for the 2012 presidential elections, he served as the party’s head of communications,Catherine Bremer (February 26, 2012), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-election-sarkozy/low-in-polls-sarkozy-stakes-all-on-campaign-verve-idUSTRE81L1ZP20120226 Low in polls, Sarkozy stakes all on campaign verve] Reuters. along with Geoffroy Didier, Valérie Debord, Guillaume Peltier and Salima Saa.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

In the Republicans’ 2016 presidential primaries, Riester endorsed Bruno Le Maire as the party's candidate for the office of President of France.Ludovic Vigogne (April 20, 2016), [https://www.lopinion.fr/edition/politique/primaire-a-droite-liste-premiers-soutiens-parlementaires-101334 Bataillons: Primaire à droite: la liste des premiers soutiens parlementaires] L'Opinion. When the primaries' winner François Fillon became embroiled in a political affair during his campaign, Riester publicly called on him to step down.[https://www.lopinion.fr/edition/politique/nous-elus-droite-centre-demandons-solennellement-a-francois-fillon-se-121400 «Nous, élus de droite et du centre, demandons solennellement à François Fillon de se retirer»] L'Opinion.

From June 2017, Riester co-chaired UDI and Independents group in the National Assembly, alongside Stéphane Demilly.[https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/riester-et-demilly-elus-co-presidents-du-groupe-constructifs-a-l-assemblee-27-06-2017-2138602_20.php Riester (LR) et Demilly (UDI) élus co-présidents du groupe "constructifs" à l'Assemblée] Le Point, June 27, 2017. He was subsequently excluded from the Republicans on 31 October 2017, alongside Gérald Darmanin, Sébastien Lecornu and Thierry Solère.{{cite web|author=LCI Editing|url=https://www.lci.fr/politique/cinq-membres-pro-macron-dont-edouard-philippe-darmanin-solere-riester-lecornu-exclus-par-les-republicains-2069013.html|title=Five pro-Macron members, including Edouard Philippe, excluded by Les Républicains|language=fr|publisher=LCI|date=31 October 2017 |access-date=22 April 2020}} In November 2017, he co-founded a new party, Agir.Emmanuel Galiero (March 31, 2018), [http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2018/03/30/01002-20180330ARTFIG00194-europe-les-constructifs-vantent-l-axe-juppe-macron.php Europe : les Constructifs vantent l'axe Juppé-Macron] Le Figaro.

Riester was a candidate for mayor of Coulommiers in the 2020 French municipal elections which he won in the first round with more than 50 percent of the vote, but entrusted the role of mayor to Laurence Picard.Louis Nadau (March 15, 2020), [https://www.marianne.net/politique/ministres-et-candidats-comment-se-sont-ils-debrouilles-au-premier-tour-des-municipales Ministres et candidats : comment se sont-ils débrouillés au premier tour des municipales?] Marianne.Michel Rose and John Irish (March 16, 2020), [https://www.reuters.com/article/france-election-paris/update-1-socialist-paris-mayor-beats-macrons-candidate-in-election-1st-round-idUSL8N2B81GV Socialist Paris Mayor beats Macron's candidate in election 1st round] Reuters.

= Minister of Culture =

Riester is appointed Minister of Culture in the government of Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on 16 October 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2018/10/16/communique-de-presse-remaniement-et-composition-du-nouveau-gouvernement|language=fr|title=Communiqué de presse - remaniement et composition du nouveau gouvernement

|work=French Republic|date=16 October 2018 |access-date=June 14, 2019}} During his time in office, he announced in September 2019 a public broadcasting reform project aimed at creating "France Médias", bringing together France Télévisions, Radio France, France Médias Monde (Radio France Internationale and France 24) and the National Audiovisual Institute (INA).Caroline Sallé and Enguérand Renault (September 24, 2019), [https://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/franck-riester-france-medias-rassemblera-les-entites-de-l-audiovisuel-public-20190924 Franck Riester: «France Médias rassemblera les entités de l’audiovisuel public»] Le Figaro. He also merged the Superior Council of the Audiovisual (CSA) and the Supreme Authority for the Distribution and Protection of Intellectual Property on the Internet (HADOPI).François Quairel (September 25, 2019), [https://www.lalettre.pro/Le-CSA-et-l-Hadopi-regroupes-au-sein-de-l-Arcom_a20573.html Le CSA et l'Hadopi regroupés au sein de l'Arcom] La lettre Pro de la Radio.

As minister he attempted to prevent the demolition of the Saint-Joseph Chapel of Saint-Paul College in Lille.{{Cite web|title=Démolition prévue pour la chapelle Saint-Joseph de Lille|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/destruction-prevue-pour-la-chapelle-saint-joseph-de-lille-20210111|access-date=2021-02-28|website=LEFIGARO|date=11 January 2021 |language=fr}}

= Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness =

On 6 July 2020, after the appointment of Jean Castex as Prime Minister, Riester is appointed Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian.{{cite web | author= res | title=Biography | website=France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs | date=1974-01-03 | url=https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/our-ministers/franck-riester/63651/article/biography}}

Political positions

In January 2013, Riester was one of the two UMP deputies, along with Benoist Apparu, to publicly declare his support and vote for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in France which had been proposed by the government of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.Alexandre Lemarié (February 1, 2013), [https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2013/02/01/pour-franck-riester-ump-le-mariage-pour-tous-est-un-texte-historique_1825880_823448.html Portrait de Franck Riester, cet UMP favorable au "mariage pour tous"] Le Monde.

When director Roman Polanski won best directing for his film An Officer and a Spy at the annual César Awards in 2020, his cast and production team boycotted the ceremony after Riester said the success of a director accused of sexual violence would send the wrong signal in the era of the Me Too movement.Elizabeth Pineau and Richard Lough (February 28, 2020), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-awards-cesars/polanski-wins-best-director-at-cesars-prompting-walkout-protest-idUSKCN20M1P1 Polanski wins best director at Cesars, prompting walkout protest] Reuters.

Personal life

Riester came out as gay in 2011, the first French MP to do so.Marc Endeweld, 'Le député-maire UMP Franck Riester fait son coming-out', in Têtu, 6 December 2011 {{cite web |url=http://www.tetu.com/actualites/france/le-depute-maire-ump-franck-riester-fait-son-coming-out-20643/20 |title=Le député-maire UMP Franck Riester fait son coming-out - Têtu |access-date=7 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115170714/http://www.tetu.com/actualites/france/le-depute-maire-ump-franck-riester-fait-son-coming-out-20643/20 |archive-date=15 January 2012 }}Jila Varoquier, 'Coulommiers : le député-maire Franck Riester (UMP) fait son coming out', in Le Parisien, 6 December 2011 [http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne-77/coulommiers-le-depute-maire-franck-riester-ump-fait-son-coming-out-06-12-2011-1755430.php]'Accrochages au conseil municipal, le maire UMP fait son coming out' on TF1, 6 December 2011 [http://lci.tf1.fr/politique/accrochages-au-conseil-municipal-le-maire-ump-fait-son-coming-6858875.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207011205/http://lci.tf1.fr/politique/accrochages-au-conseil-municipal-le-maire-ump-fait-son-coming-6858875.html|date=7 December 2011}}Harriet Agnew (October 16, 2018), [https://www.ft.com/content/d87a93da-d11e-11e8-a9f2-7574db66bcd5 France’s new faces: who to watch in Macron’s revamped cabinet] Financial Times.

In March 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic Riester tested positive for COVID-19.{{cite web |title=#Coronavirus : Franck Riester, le ministre de la Culture, testé positif mais "en forme" (cabinet) |url=https://twitter.com/afpfr/status/1237090636760854528 |website=Twitter |publisher=Agence France-Presse |access-date=9 March 2020}}