Catherine Vautrin

Catherine Vautrin (French pronunciation: [katʁin votʁɛ̃]; born 26 July 1960) is a French politician who has been serving as Minister of the Armed Forces since 2025. She previously served as the Minister of Labour, Health, Solidarity, and Families in the successive governments of Prime Ministers François Bayrou and Sébastien Lecornu from 2024 to 2025.

Vautrin briefly served as Minister of Partnership with Territories and Decentralization in the Barnier government from September to December 2024 and as Minister of Labour, Health, and Solidarity in the Attal government from January to September 2024. Vautrin represented the 2nd constituency of Marne in the National Assembly from 2002 to 2004 and 2007 to 2017.

Early life and career

Vautrin was born in Reims. Her husband, whom she married in 2001, Jean-Loup Pennaforte is chief of internal medicine at the University Hospital of Reims. They have a daughter, Hortense, born in 2002.

Vautrin holds a Master of Business Law. In 1986, she started her professional activity by becoming a product manager in the American insurance company CIGNA after which she became director of marketing and communication in France and for Europe.

Political career

In 1983, at the request of Jean Falala, Vautrin became a municipal councilor in the city of Reims. At the time, she was the youngest of the team. In 1999, she left her job in the private sector to join the Regional Council of Champagne-Ardenne, where she held the position of Deputy Director General in charge of directions and operational services.