Martine Vassal

Martine Vassal is the daughter of Élie Gilles, an industrialist.{{Cite web|date=2015-04-02|title=Martine Vassal, nouvelle présidente des Bouches-du-Rhône|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/politique/martine-vassal-nouvelle-presidente-des-bouches-du-rhone-1427965289|access-date=2021-07-31|website=France Bleu|language=fr}} She studied at the Lycée Montgrand,{{Cite web|publisher=Martine Vassal|title=Qui suis-je ?|url=https://www.martinevassal-2020.fr/martine-vassal-qui-suis-je/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217211252/https://www.martinevassal-2020.fr/martine-vassal-qui-suis-je/|access-date=2021-07-31|archive-date=2020-02-17|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web|title=La cité mixte Daumier mieux sécurisée|url=https://www.departement13.fr/le-departement/linstitution/retour-sur/detail/article/la-cite-mixte-daumier-mieux-securisee/|access-date=2021-07-31|website=departement13.fr|language=fr-FR}} then was admitted to the École supérieure de commerce in Marseille.{{Cite web|title=MARTINE VASSAL|url=https://www.emergingvalley.co/en/speakers-2019/martine-vassal/|access-date=2021-07-31|website=Emerging Valley|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2015-03-29|title=Martine Vassal, une battante née bélier|url=https://gomet.net/politique-martine-vassal-battante-nee-belier/|access-date=2021-07-31|website=Gomet|language=fr-FR}}

In 1987, after two years of international training, she took over the head of the family textile company.{{Cite web|title='Margaret Thatcher' ou 'la belle Martine', qui est Martine Vassal?|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/politique/2339291-20180920-marseille-margaret-thatcher-belle-martine-martine-vassal-nouvelle-presidente-metropole|access-date=2021-07-31|website=20 Minutes|date=20 September 2018 |language=fr}} At the same time, it was a part of several associations of executives and management.

In 2001, Vassal was elected to the municipal council of Marseille on the list led by incumbent Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin,{{Cite web|title=Résultats des élections municipales 2008|url=https://mobile.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Municipales/elecresult__municipales_2008|access-date=2021-08-02|website=mobile.interieur.gouv.fr|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web|title=Municipales2020 - Martine Vassal - Marseille|url=https://www.institutmontaigne.org/municipales-2020/marseille/martine-vassal-biographie|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Institut Montaigne - Municipales 2020|language=fr-FR}} of which she became the deputy at city hall. She was delegated to public sites, food and fairground markets and fairs, then, from 2008, to the quality of the city, public space, cleanliness, sites and markets, urban management and advertising. In 2014, she was entrusted with the delegation of international and European relations. She left her position as a deputy in 2015.

She was also a community advisor at the Marseille Provence Métropole urban community,{{Cite web|title=Communauté d'agglomération Agglopole Provence . Martine Vassal réélue présidente de la Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence|url=https://www.agglopole-provence.fr/site/bienvenue/accueil/martine_vassal_reelue_presidente_de_la_metropole_aix_marseille_provence|access-date=2021-08-02|website=agglopole-provence.fr}} where she was, from 2008 to 2014, president of the "eco-responsible agglomeration" commission, in charge of waste, water and waste recycling issues.

In 2002, she was elected the departmental councillor of Bouches-du-Rhône for the canton of Marseille-10. Re-elected in 2008, she was appointed president of the group "L'avenir du 13" (UMP-UDI), then in the opposition.

Within the UMP, Martine Vassal was appointed deputy departmental secretary of the UMP of Bouches-du-Rhône in 2006 and national secretary of the UMP in 2013.

As the leader of the UMP for the 2015 departmental elections, she was elected in the canton of Marseille-10 while the right obtained an absolute majority in the departmental council.{{Cite web|date=2015-03-23|title=Résultats des élections départementales 2015 Marseille (13) 1er tour|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/elections/resultats-des-elections-departementales-2015-marseille-13-1er-tour_1664049.html|access-date=2021-08-02|website=L'Express|language=fr}} On 2 April 2015, she was elected president of the departmental council. The first woman to be elected to this function, she defeated incumbent Jean-Noël Guérini;{{Cite web|date=2015-04-02|title=Bouches-du-Rhône: l'UMP Martine Vassal met fin à la présidence Guérini|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/bouches-du-rhone-l-ump-martine-vassal-met-fin-a-la-presidence-guerini-02-04-2015-1918179_20.php|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Le Point|language=fr}}{{Cite news|date=2015-04-02|title=Bouches-du-Rhône : l'UMP Martine Vassal tourne la page Guérini|language=fr|work=Le Monde|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/elections-departementales-2015/article/2015/04/02/martine-vassal-tourne-la-page-guerini_4607926_4572524.html|access-date=2021-08-02}} it was also the first time in a century that the right-wing had led the department.{{Cite web|title=Martine Vassal officiellement élue présidente de la métropole Aix-Marseille|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/politique/2339891-20180920-marseille-martine-vassal-officiellement-elue-presidente-metropole|access-date=2021-08-02|website=20 Minutes|date=20 September 2018 |language=fr}}

She supported Nicolas Sarkozy for the 2016 Republican presidential primary.{{Cite web|date=2016-09-01|title=Vassal et Muselier dans l'équipe de Sarkozy|url=https://www.laprovence.com/actu/en-direct/4096659/vassal-et-muselier-dans-lequipe-de-sarkozy.html|access-date=2021-08-02|website=LaProvence.com|language=fr}} As a part of her campaign, she was appointed national speaker in charge of integration. In view of the 2017 presidential election, she supported the candidacy of François Fillon{{Cite web|date=2017-03-22|title=EXCLU - La présidente des Bouches-du-Rhône soutient François Fillon, mais "n'a pas besoin d'être première de la classe"|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/politique/exclu-la-presidente-des-bouches-du-rhone-soutient-francois-fillon-mais-n-pas-besoin-d-etre-premiere-de-la-classe-1490169997|access-date=2021-08-02|website=France Bleu|language=fr}} until the first round.

In January 2015, following a report from the regional chamber of accounts, the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) opened an investigation into suspicions of favoritism and illegal taking of interests concerning Martine Vassal and Loïc Fauchon, Chairman of the Société des Eaux de Marseille (SEM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Veolia).{{Cite web|date=2017-06-22|title=Marché de l'eau à Marseille : Martine Vassal, présidente du conseil départemental des Bouches-du-Rhône, en garde à vue|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/marche-de-l-eau-marseille-martine-vassal-presidente-du-conseil-departemental-des-bouches-du-rhone-en-garde-vue-1498160751|access-date=2021-08-02|website=France Bleu|language=fr}}{{Cite web|date=2015-08-21|title=Contrats de l'eau : MPM entre connivence et amateurisme|url=https://marsactu.fr/contrats-de-leau-mpm-entre-connivence-et-amateurisme/|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Marsactu|language=fr-FR}} Her home and office were being searched in November 2015.{{Cite web|date=2015-11-20|title=Soupçons de favoritisme sur les contrats de l'eau : perquisitions chez Vassal|url=https://marsactu.fr/perquisitions-chez-martine-vassal/|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Marsactu|language=fr-FR}} Two years later, in 2017, she was summoned by the police to be heard on this case on which she had declared in 2014: "It was the Marseille Provence Métropole services which carried out the analysis and we followed their recommendations".{{Cite web|title=Marché de l'eau à Marseille: Martine Vassal, présidente du CD 13, sortie de garde à vue|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/metropole-aix-marseille/marseille/marche-eau-marseille-martine-vassal-presidente-du-cd-13-sortie-garde-vue-1284941.html|access-date=2021-08-03|website=France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur|date=23 June 2017 |language=fr-FR}} In 2020, no judicial information was open.{{Cite web|date=2017-06-24|title=Marchés de l'eau à Marseille : une enquête menée au compte-gouttes|url=https://www.lamarseillaise.fr/marseille/faits-divers-justice/61531-marches-de-l-eau-a-marseille-une-enquete-menee-au-compte-gouttes|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://www.lamarseillaise.fr/marseille/faits-divers-justice/61531-marches-de-l-eau-a-marseille-une-enquete-menee-au-compte-gouttes|archive-date=2020-01-02|access-date=2021-08-03|website=lamarseillaise.fr|language=fr}}

In March 2016, Martine Vassal was elected first vice-president of the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis, with economic strategy and attractiveness as a delegation.{{Cite web|date=2017-10-05|title=Martine Vassal, symbole du dynamisme à la provençal|url=http://www.departements.fr/martine-vassal-bouches-du-rhone/|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Assemblée des départements de France|language=fr}} From 6 September 2018, after the resignation of Jean-Claude Gaudin, she assumed the interim presidency of the metropolis.{{Cite web|date=2018-09-04|title=Jean-Claude Gaudin met sur orbite Martine Vassal|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/jean-claude-gaudin-met-sur-orbite-martine-vassal-04-09-2018-2248223_20.php|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Le Point|language=fr}} She was elected head of the metropolis on September 20. She led the merger project between the metropolis and the Bouches-du-Rhône department proposed by Édouard Philippe's government, a project postponed since.{{Cite web|date=2018-09-20|title=Succession de Gaudin: poker menteur à Marseille|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/lr/a-marseille-poker-menteur-pour-la-succession-de-gaudin_2036047.html|access-date=2021-08-03|website=L'Express|language=fr}}

Martine Vassal announced her candidacy for the 2020 municipal elections in Marseille on 13 September 2019.{{Cite web|title=L'annonce "audacieuse" de Martine Vassal|url=https://region-sud.latribune.fr/politique/2019-09-13/l-annonce-audacieuse-de-martine-vassal-828065.html|access-date=2021-08-03|website=La Tribune|date=13 September 2019 |language=fr}} On November 27, she received the support of the Republicans, by 27 votes against 11 for Senator Bruno Gilles.{{Cite web|last1=Harounyan|first1=Stéphanie|last2=Albertini|first2=Dominique|title=Investiture à Marseille : Martine Vassal adoubée, Bruno Gilles ne désarme pas|url=https://www.liberation.fr/france/2019/11/27/investiture-a-marseille-martine-vassal-adoubee-bruno-gilles-ne-desarme-pas_1765947/|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Libération|language=fr}} In the first round, on 15 March 2020, LR's list came in the second position with 22.3% of the votes, behind Michèle Rubirola.{{Cite web|date=2020-03-15|title=Municipales à Marseille : Michèle Rubirola devance Martine Vassal|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/elections-municipales/municipales-a-marseille-vassal-et-rubirola-au-coude-a-coude-15-03-2020-2367270_1966.php|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Le Point|language=fr}} Martine Vassal was defeated by the latter in the second round, on 28 June 2020, its lists obtaining 30.8% of the votes cast.{{Cite web|title=Résultats élections Marseille (13055) : élections régionales et départementales 2021|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/resultats-elections/marseille-13055/|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Le Monde|language=fr-FR}} On July 2, she withdrawed her candidacy for the election of the mayor of Marseille in favor of deputy Guy Teissier.{{Cite web|title=Municipales à Marseille : Martine Vassal se retire, LR présentera le député Guy Teissier pour être maire|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/municipales-a-marseille-martine-vassal-se-retire-lr-presentera-le-depute-guy-teissier-pour-etre-maire-20200702|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Le Figaro|date=2 July 2020 |language=fr}} Shortly after, she was re-elected as the head of the metropolis of Aix-Marseille-Provence.{{Cite web|title=Martine Vassal réélue à la tête de la métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/politique/2818683-20200709-martine-vassal-reelue-tete-metropole-aix-marseille-provence-premier-tour|access-date=2021-08-04|website=20 Minutes|date=9 July 2020 |language=fr}}

In November 2019, Mediapart published an investigation into the financing of the regional daily La Provence by the Departmental Council of Bouches-du-Rhône after Vassal took the office at the head of the community. The newspaper would have received more than 1.2 million euros in 2018 from the departmental council and the metropolis of Aix-Marseille-Provence.{{Cite web|last=Mauduit|first=Laurent|title=Marseille: "La Provence" a passé un pacte avec la candidate LR à la mairie|url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/france/211119/marseille-la-provence-passe-un-pacte-avec-la-candidate-lr-la-mairie|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Mediapart|date=21 November 2019 |language=fr}} Provence replied that "these so-called subsidies are in fact only the purchase of advertising inserts, a common fact for regional daily press titles".{{Cite web|title=Municipales : Médiapart dénonce "un pacte" entre Martine Vassal et le journal "La Provence"|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/marseille/municipales-mediapart-denonce-pacte-entre-martine-vassal-journal-provence-1752743.html|access-date=2021-08-04|website=France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur|date=21 November 2019 |language=fr-FR}} Other fundings were also raised such as that of BPI France or of the Française des jeux.

Before the second round of municipal elections in 2020, two running mates of Martine Vassal were filmed by a France 2 journalist, proposing illegal proxies in the 4th and 6th arrondissements of the city, avoiding going to the commissariat.{{Efn|Usually, to have a proxy drawn up, the officials go to the commissariat, in front of a judicial police officer who verifies their identity. But in this case, the candidates proposed by telephone to establish proxies without going to the commissariat, in defiance of the electoral code.|group=lower-alpha}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=ENQUÊTE FRANCE 2. Municipales : à Marseille, une candidate LR propose des procurations sans passer par le commissariat|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/elections/municipales/enquete-france-2-municipales-a-marseille-des-militants-lr-proposent-des-procurations-sans-passer-par-le-commissariat_4005051.html|access-date=2021-07-29|website=Franceinfo|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web|last=Cuordifede|first=Célia|date=2020-06-11|title=Marseille : malgré la loi, deux candidates LR proposent des "procurations simplifiées" sans signature|url=https://www.marianne.net/politique/marseille-malgre-la-loi-deux-candidates-lr-proposent-des-procurations-simplifiees-sans|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Marianne|language=fr}} An elected official explained that the signature of the principal is not even requested since “the commissariat punches all the proxies that are brought to them”.{{Cite news|date=2020-06-13|title=Municipales 2020 : à Marseille, perquisition au local de la tête de liste LR, après des accusations de fraude aux procurations|language=fr|work=Le Monde|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2020/06/13/municipales-2020-onde-de-choc-a-marseille-autour-de-procurations-frauduleuses_6042714_823448.html|access-date=2021-08-04}} Martine Vassal noted that "if the facts are true, they are unacceptable and evoke a “cabal of Parisian journalists”. Her campaign premises were raided as part of a preliminary investigation.{{Cite web|last=Leforestier (Marsactu)|first=Jean-Marie|title=A Marseille, une enquête préliminaire pour fraude à la procuration accable la droite|url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/france/140620/marseille-une-enquete-preliminaire-pour-fraude-la-procuration-accable-la-droite|access-date=2021-08-04|website=Mediapart|date=14 June 2020 |language=fr}} LR sector mayor Yves Moraine did not deny having proposed such powers of attorney, declaring: “We thought that the conditions for verifying identity would be relaxed given the health situation. And that a simple signature would suffice”.{{Cite web|title=Municipales : perquisitions au QG de campagne de Martine Vassal pour procurations frauduleuses|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/marseille/municipales-perquisitions-au-qg-martine-vassal-procurations-frauduleuses-1841046.html|access-date=2021-08-04|website=France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur|date=13 June 2020 |language=fr-FR}}

In 2012, she was elevated to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Merit.{{Cite web|title=Décret du 2 mai 2012 portant promotion et nomination|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000025789227|access-date=2021-07-29|website=legifrance.gouv.fr|language=fr}}

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Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century French women politicians

Category:Liberal Democracy (France) politicians

Category:Union for a Popular Movement politicians

Category:The Republicans (France) politicians

Category:Politicians from Marseille

Category:French city councillors

Category:Departmental councillors (France)

Category:Presidents of French departments