14 Facts About Jean-Marc Ayrault

Jean-Marc Ayrault later was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2017.

Jean-Marc Ayrault previously was Mayor of Nantes from 1989 to 2012 and led the Socialist Party group in the National Assembly from 1997 to 2012.

Jean-Marc Ayrault subsequently studied German at the University of Nantes.

Jean-Marc Ayrault graduated with a degree in German in 1971 and in 1972 obtained his graduate teaching diploma.

Jean-Marc Ayrault stayed in the Nantes area for his probationary teaching year which was undertaken in Reze.

Jean-Marc Ayrault joined the Socialist Party after the 1971 Epinay Congress during which Francois Mitterrand took the party leadership.

Jean-Marc Ayrault was affiliated to Jean Poperen's faction, one of the left-wing groups in the party.

Jean-Marc Ayrault reached the PS national committee in 1979, then the executive of the party in 1981.

Jean-Marc Ayrault was first elected to the National Assembly in 1986, as representative of Loire Atlantique department, and he was consistently re-elected in subsequent elections.

Jean-Marc Ayrault was an important "local baron" of the Socialist Party.

Jean-Marc Ayrault was a supporter of Francois Hollande during the Socialist Party's 2011 primary election to choose its presidential candidate.

Jean-Marc Ayrault resigned on 31 March 2014, the day after the "Socialists suffered heavy losses in nationwide municipal elections", and formally handed over to his successor Manuel Valls at the prime ministerial residence, the Hotel Matignon, on 1 April 2014.

In September 2016, Jean-Marc Ayrault took part in the formal signing ceremony for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, a controversial $24-billion Franco-Chinese investment project.

When President Hollande published a list of bank deposits and property held by all 38 ministers for first time 2012, Jean-Marc Ayrault declared personal assets worth 1.5 million euros.