Isabelle Altmaier, the prudent woman in the shadow of Michel Barnier

It’s official. 60 days after the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, his successor was finally named this Thursday, September 5. And contrary to all expectations, Michel Barnier himself was appointed Matinho by Emmanuel Macron. Since then, we want to know more about the career of this historical tenor of the right, who has a lot of political experience.

As for his personal life, we know less, except that Michel Barnier has always been able to count on the unwavering support of his wife, Isabelle Altmaier-Barnier. To know more about him, we have to read some celebrity press clippings. Gala We learn that Madame Barnier was born in 1955. The oldest of six children from a Catholic Salov family, she is the daughter of Claude Altmaier and Solange de Truchy de Lay. But also the sister of Eric and Nicola Altmaier, two well-known names in the film world, as they run Mandarin Films, a company that has produced many films. among which OSS 117. Cairo, nest of spies And OSS 117: Rio is no longer responsive By Michel Hazanavicius, The first day of the rest of your life By Remy Besançon or even Young and beautiful By Francois Ozon.

Childhood, the meeting with Michel Barnier? We only know that Isabelle Altmaier was not yet thirty when she married Michel Barnier in 1982; he was then a member of the National Assembly and in the same year became the youngest president of the main council in the history of Savoy. Behind the scenes, Isabelle Altmaier is already there and will remain so throughout her husband’s long political career.

From a career in law to communications

In turn, he is a lawyer by profession. He started his career in a law firm where he worked for ten years. In the early 1990s, he chose to redirect his career to the field of communications. But his close connection with the political world is never far away. During the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, from June 2007 to 2010, Isabelle Altmaier-Barnier was responsible for a number of missions in the Ministry of Health, which was then headed by Roseline Bachelet. She then devoted herself to youth, women’s health and nutrition. Michel Barnier simultaneously holds the position of Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

And what about today? If her LinkedIn account is to be believed, since 2016 Isabelle Altmaier-Barnier has been the head of communications and fundraising for the La vie au Grand Air foundation, an organization committed to helping children in need. This obligation is not new for Michel Barnier’s wife. Since 2007, he has been the president of the humanitarian association “Fraternité Universelle” in Haiti, where he actively works to help the local population.

Silent effect

A few years after their marriage, Isabelle and Michel Barnier became the parents of three children: first, Nicolas, who was born in 1987; balance between her career, raising her children and supporting her husband. But while Isabelle Altmaier-Barnier is rarely in the spotlight, her influence is palpable. When the former minister announced his candidacy for the 2022 presidential election in 2021, he continued to support him. With Matignon joining today, he needs to be there more than ever.