Claire O'Petit

Clairette Hélène Marceline O'Petit (born 15 October 1949) is a French politician representing La République En Marche! She was elected to the French National Assembly on 18 June 2017, representing the 5th constituency of the department of Eure.

Biography

Early life and education

Claire O'Petit was born in Épinay-sur-Seine, located in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis where she remained during her youth. Her mother was a cook and member of the PCF, who left the party following the liberation, horrified by the fate reserved to the "shaved women" (women whose hairs were shaved in public because of suspected "horizontal collaboration" (having sex with German occupants) with the enemy), though remaining member of CGT.

Incumbent of a French professional in sewing, she worked most of her life as retailer, and started working at 17 until she retired. She held several types of job: shoe retailer on the Champs-Élysées, dog grooming, paramedic, sales representative, washing machine retailer, commercial for household appliances, etc.

Career and early political involvement

She then completed a professional training and became business manager for a paramedical company, opening a dog grooming salon at the same time in Saint-Denis in the 1990s. After demonstrating against local tax on small shop and retailers assessed excessively in comparison to neighbouring cities, she got involved in activities for defense of local commercants and craftsmen defense in local structure. She chaired a retailers and craftsmen association from 1989 to her election as member of parliament.