Stéphane Le Foll (born 3 February 1960) is a French politician who served as Minister of Agriculture, Agrifood, and Forestry from 2012 to 2017 and as Government Spokesperson from 2014 to 2017, in the governments of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Manuel Valls under President François Hollande. A member of the Socialist Party (PS), he has been the Mayor of Le Mans since 2018.
Early Life and Education Born in Le Mans, Sarthe, Le Foll is the son of a high school teacher and a post office employee. He studied agricultural sciences, earning a BTS in agricultural techniques from the Lycée agricole de Le Mans and a master's degree in economics from the University of Nantes. He began his career as an agricultural engineer and later became a researcher at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA).
Political Career
European Parliament (2004-2007) Le Foll's political career began as a close collaborator and chief of staff to François Hollande when Hollande was the First Secretary of the Socialist Party. He was first elected to public office as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 2004, representing the West France constituency. During his time in the European Parliament, he sat on the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
National Assembly (2007-2012, 2017-2022) In 2007, Le Foll was elected to the French National Assembly, representing the 4th constituency of Sarthe. He served until 2012 when he was appointed to the government. He was re-elected to the National Assembly in 2017 following his departure from government, serving another term until 2022.
Minister of Agriculture, Agrifood, and Forestry (2012-2017) Following François Hollande's victory in the 2012 presidential election, Le Foll was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Agrifood, and Forestry, a position he held throughout Hollande's entire presidency. In this role, he was responsible for France's agricultural policy, food safety, and forestry management. He played a key role in negotiations for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at the European level and addressed various agricultural crises in France.
Government Spokesperson (2014-2017) In addition to his ministerial portfolio, Le Foll was also appointed Government Spokesperson in 2014, serving until the end of the Hollande presidency in 2017. As spokesperson, he was the public voice of the government, regularly briefing the media on cabinet decisions and government policies.
Mayor of Le Mans (2018-present) In 2018, Le Foll was elected Mayor of Le Mans, his hometown, succeeding Jean-Claude Boulard who had passed away. He was re-elected for a full term in the 2020 municipal elections. As mayor, he has focused on local development, ecological transition, and urban planning for the city.
Other Roles Le Foll has also served as the First Secretary of the Socialist Party's federation in Sarthe and has held various national responsibilities within the party.
Personal Life Stéphane Le Foll is married and has children. He is known for his pragmatic approach to politics and his expertise in agricultural matters.