Laurent Wauquiez
Laurent Wauquiez is a French politician who has served as the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region since 2016. He previously held national roles as a minister under President Nicolas Sarkozy and was the leader of the centre-right Les Républicains party from 2017 to 2019. He has also been a member of the French National Assembly, representing the Haute-Loire department.
Standing...
Stories...
Jul 19, 2026
Lean Left
Promised regional air conditioners made locally for Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes hospitals, but units are labelled 'made in China'.
Socialistes denounce this as classic right-wing hypocrisy: preaching protectionism while outsourcing public contracts.
Jul 16, 2026
Lean Right
Wauquiez is under fire from LR deputies after claiming Édouard Philippe and Bruno Retailleau are too close to Macron and not right-wing enough.
LR readers see Wauquiez as a necessary but clumsy fighter for conservative identity; his bluntness risks deepening party splits just as a presidential run looms.
Jul 12, 2026
Far Right
Traded barbs with Marine Tondelier on social media over air conditioning in regional trains.
RN appreciates Wauquiez's defense of practical solutions over environmental posturing.
Jul 2, 2026
Far Right
Called for Bruno Retailleau to step aside if his presidential candidacy stays below 10%, and extended an olive branch to Édouard Philippe.
RN views Wauquiez's maneuvering as a sign of LR's death spiral, positioning RN as the only credible opposition to Macron's centrists.
Jul 2, 2026
Lean Right
Gave exclusive interview to Le Figaro detailing his 2027 strategy, including overtures to Edouard Philippe, conditions on Gabriel Attal, and fears about Bruno Retailleau.
LR sees him as a potential unifier but also ambitious; his moves are critical for the party's presidential nomination and reveal internal power struggles.
Jul 1, 2026
Far Right
Wauquiez said Bruno Retailleau must withdraw if his presidential candidacy stays below 10% and reached out to Edouard Philippe for a right-wing alliance.
RN views Wauquiez as a symptom of the decaying 'Les Républicains' party, which prioritises internal arrangements over giving France a real right-wing alternative.
Jul 1, 2026
Lean Right
Wauquiez gave an exclusive interview detailing his hand to Edouard Philippe, conditions to Gabriel Attal, and fears on Bruno Retailleau as he positions himself as a 'guerrier du rassemblement' for 2027.
LR readers see Wauquiez as a key figure to rebuild the right, but they are skeptical of his ability to unite the party after his failed presidential ambition.
Jun 18, 2026
Lean Left
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, still under Wauquiez's influence, is cutting public funding for national choreographic centers.
Socialistes denounce Wauquiez's cultural cuts as ideological vandalism that prioritises cost-cutting over artistic diversity and public access.
Jun 18, 2026
Lean Left
The LR president of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes cut public funding for choreography centers, preferring to support private companies.
Socialistes criticize him for dismantling public cultural institutions and prioritizing commercial interests over public access.
Jun 9, 2026
Lean Right
The Droite Républicaine group president declared the right's 'loss machine is running' for 2027 and is pushing a primary that could include Renaissance members if they align on right-wing ideas.
LR supporters view Wauquiez as the clearest voice for rebuilding a coherent conservative platform before 2027, though his openness to Renaissance risks blurring LR's identity.