Roger Karoutchi


Roger Karoutchi is the French Ambassador to the OECD. He is a former Secretary of State to the French Prime Minister, with responsibility for Relations with Parliament.

Early life

Karoutchi was born in Casablanca into a Moroccan Jewish family. His ancestors settled in Morocco in the 18th century from Livorno in Italy.
He received a master's degree from the Sciences Po Aix.

Career

Karoutchi became a history teacher, first in Goussainville, and then in Paris, teaching from 1975 to 1985. He continued his political activity, which he had started at the age of 16, during that period, being a national delegate of the Rassemblement pour la République from 1981 to 1986.
At that time, Karoutchi joined the office of Philippe Séguin, the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, eventually becoming Séguin's chief of staff when he became president of the Assemblée nationale.
Karoutchi was a Member of the European Parliament from 1997 to 1999 and Senator from Hauts-de-Seine from 1999 to 2007.
He was very active in the 2007 presidential campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy, with whom he has a close personal relationship.
From 2009 to 2011, Karoutchi served as the French Ambassador to the OECD.
In the Republicans’ 2016 presidential primaries, Karoutchi endorsed Sarkozy as the party’s candidate for the office of President of France.

Political career

Governmental function
Secretary of State for Relations with Parliament : 2007-2009.
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament : 1997-1999.
Senate of France
Senator of Hauts-de-Seine : 1999-2007. Reelected in 2004.
Regional Council
Vice-president of the Regional Council of Ile-de-France : 1994-1998.
Regional councillor of Ile-de-France : Since 1992. Reelected in 1998, 2004.
Municipal Council
Deputy-mayor of Villeneuve-la-Garenne : Since 2008.
Municipal councillor of Villeneuve-la-Garenne : Since 2008.
Municipal councillor of Nanterre : 1989-1995.
Municipal councillor of Boulogne-Billancourt : 1995-2001.

Personal life

In January 2009, Karoutchi publicly announced that he is gay. As such, he was the first French Minister to come out while in office.

Biography

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