Laurence Rossignol (; born 22 December 1957) is a French politician of the Socialist Party (PS) who has served as a member of the French Senate from 2011 to 2014 and again since 2017, representing Oise. From 2014 to 2017, she served as Secretary of State for the Family, Senior Citizens and Autonomy in the governments of Prime Ministers Manuel Valls and Bernard Cazeneuve.
Political career Ahead of the Socialist Party's 2008 convention in Reims, Rossignol publicly endorsed Martine Aubry as candidate to succeed François Hollande at the party's leadership.Des femmes du PS lancent un appel en faveur de Martine Aubry L'Obs, 4 June 2008. When Aubry took over as party leader, she became the Socialist Party's spokesperson for environmental policy.L'incontournable Laurence Rossignol Le Parisien, 28 December 2008. In the party's 2011 primaries, she supported Aubry as its candidate for the 2012 presidential election.
From 2014 to 2017, Rossignol served as State Secretary under the leadership of Minister of Health Marisol Touraine. During her time in office, she established the Agency for the Recovery of Unpaid Alimonies (ARIPA) to ensure the recovery of outstanding child support.Stéphane Kovacs (20 January 2017), Une agence contre les pensions alimentaires impayées Le Figaro.
Member of the Senate, 2017–present In the Socialist Party's presidential primaries, Rossignol endorsed Manuel Valls as the party's candidate for the 2017 French presidential election.Mathilde Siraud (12 December 2016), Najat Vallaud-Belkacem rallie Manuel Valls Le Figaro. At the Aubervilliers Congress in 2017, she also supported Luc Carvounas’ candidacy to lead the PS.Tristan Quinault-Maupoil (11 March 2017), PS : Laurence Rossignol rallie Luc Carvounas Le Figaro.
In 2017, Rossignol was a candidate for the leadership of the Socialist group in the Senate, against Martial Bourquin and incumbent Didier Guillaume; Guillaume was eventually re-elected.Charles Sapin (3 November 2017), La guerre couve chez les sénateurs socialistes Le Figaro. When Guillaume eventually retired in 2008, Rossignol lost out against Patrick Kanner in an internal vote, with 47 against 25 votes.
Ahead of the 2022 presidential election, Rossignol endorsed Arnaud Montebourg as the party’s candidate to replace incumbent President Emmanuel Macron.Pierre Lepelletier (5 November 2021), Le PS épargne pour l’instant ses sénateurs pro-Montebourg Le Figaro.
Political positions In 2015, Rossignol defended the government's policy of testing the bones of foreign minors to determine their age.
In 2016, Rossignol caused controversy when she compared Islamic women who chose to wear veils to "negroes who were for slavery". She was later reported to have apologized for the use of the word negro but stood by her comparison of veil wearing to slavery.Andrew Callus (31 March 2016), French minister under fire for linking veil-wearing to slavery Reuters.
References