Hélène Mandroux-Colas
Encyclopedia
Hélène Mandroux-Colas is a French politician. A member of the Socialist Party
(PS) since 1982, her career in Montpellier
debuted in Georges Frêche
's municipal administration. Frêche gave her important responsibilities such as finances, municipal staff, legal affairs since 1995, and vice-mayor from 2001. She became mayor of Montpellier in 2004, following the resignation of Frêche, who could not cumulate the job as mayor with his new role as President of the Languedoc-Roussillon
Region
. She defeated her UMP
opponent Jacques Domergue in a three-way runoff during the French municipal elections, 2008
.
Within the party, she was a supporter of Ségolène Royal
at the Reims Congress
, and became one of Royal's major regional allies with Gérard Collomb
and Jean-Noël Guérini
. Despite being close to Frêche in the past, she has recently distanced herself from him following his notoriously controversial remarks. On 28 January 2010, following controversial comments made by Frêche about Laurent Fabius
, Martine Aubry
asked Mandroux to form a list supported by the party for the 2010 regional elections
. Her list received the endorsement of the PS against Frêche's dissident list, but did not prevent Frêche from retaining the presidency of the region.
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
(PS) since 1982, her career in Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
debuted in Georges Frêche
Georges Frêche
Georges Frêche was a French politician. He served as President of the Languedoc-Roussillon Region from 2004 until his death: prior to that, he had been mayor of Montpellier for 27 years, and was also a former member of the National Assembly...
's municipal administration. Frêche gave her important responsibilities such as finances, municipal staff, legal affairs since 1995, and vice-mayor from 2001. She became mayor of Montpellier in 2004, following the resignation of Frêche, who could not cumulate the job as mayor with his new role as President of the Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the 27 regions of France. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side.-Geography:The region is...
Region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
. She defeated her UMP
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
opponent Jacques Domergue in a three-way runoff during the French municipal elections, 2008
French municipal elections, 2008
The French municipal elections of 2008 were held on 9 March in that year to elect the municipal councils of France's 36,782 communes...
.
Within the party, she was a supporter of Ségolène Royal
Ségolène Royal
Marie-Ségolène Royal , known as Ségolène Royal, is a French politician. She is the president of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council, a former member of the National Assembly, a former government minister, and a prominent member of the French Socialist Party...
at the Reims Congress
Reims Congress
The Reims Congress was the twenty-second national congress of the French Socialist Party , taking place from 14 to 16 November 2008 in the city of Reims in the Marne....
, and became one of Royal's major regional allies with Gérard Collomb
Gérard Collomb
Gérard Collomb, born on 20 June 1947 in Chalon-sur-Saône, Saône-et-Loire, is a French politician. He is an active member of the French Socialist Party and has been Mayor of Lyon since March 2001....
and Jean-Noël Guérini
Jean-Noël Guérini
250px|right|frame|Jean-Noël GuériniJean-Noël Guérini is a member of the Senate of France, representing the Bouches-du-Rhône department since 1998...
. Despite being close to Frêche in the past, she has recently distanced herself from him following his notoriously controversial remarks. On 28 January 2010, following controversial comments made by Frêche about Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius
Laurent Fabius is a French Socialist politician. He served as Prime Minister from 17 July 1984 to 20 March 1986. He was 37 years old when he was appointed and is, so far, the youngest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic.-Early life:...
, Martine Aubry
Martine Aubry
Martine Aubry is a French politician. She has been the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party since November 2008 and Mayor of Lille since March 2001...
asked Mandroux to form a list supported by the party for the 2010 regional elections
French regional elections, 2010
Regional elections were held in France on 14 and 21 March 2010. At stake were the presidencies of each of France's 26 régions, which, though they do not have legislative autonomy, manage sizable budgets....
. Her list received the endorsement of the PS against Frêche's dissident list, but did not prevent Frêche from retaining the presidency of the region.