Fillon, François (1954– )

French right-of-centre politician, prime minister from 2007. A member of the left wing of the right-of-centre Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), he is a Gaullist who believes in social inclusiveness and consensus. As labour and social affairs minister (2002–04) under Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, during the presidency of Jacques Chirac, he undertook controversial reforms of France's 35-hour working week and the retirement system. He was education minister 2004–05 but was sacked when Dominique de Villepin became prime minister in 2005. He directed Nicolas Sarkozy's successful presidential campaign in 2007 and was appointed prime minister by Sarkozy in May 2007.

Born in Le Mans, his father was a notary and his mother a historian. He studied public law and political science at universities in Le Mans and Paris. In the late 1970s he worked as a ministerial assistant and advisor, before being elected to the French National Assembly, representing Sarthe, in 1981. He also served as mayor of Sablé-sur-Sarthe 1983–2001 and sat on the Pays de la Loire regional council from 1988, serving as its president 1998–2004. He was minister for higher education 1993–95, and in 2005 was elected a senator for Sarthe.