Francois Fillon
François Fillon Fillon in 2012 Prime Minister of France In office 17 May 2007 – 16 May 2012 President Nicolas Sarkozy Preceded by Dominique de Villepin Succeeded by Jean-Marc Ayrault Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing In office 22 February 2012 – 16 May 2012 Prime Minister Himself Preceded by Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet Succeeded by Nicole Bricq Minister of National Education In office 31 March 2004 – 2 June 2005 Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin Dominique de Villepin Preceded by Luc Ferry Succeeded by Gilles de Robien Minister of Social Affairs In office 7 May 2002 – 31 March 2004 Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin Preceded by Élisabeth Guigou Succeeded by Jean-Louis Borloo Member of the National Assembly Incumbent Assumed office 20 June 2012 Constituency Paris 2 Personal details Born François Charles Armand Fillon (1954-03-04) 4 March 1954 (age 60) Le Mans, France Political party RPR (Before 2002) UMP (2002–present) Spouse(s) Penelope Clarke Children 5 Alma mater University of Maine Paris Descartes University Religion Roman Catholicism Signature François Charles Armand Fillon (French pronunciation:  [fʁɑ .swa ʃaʁl aʁmɑ fi.jɔ ]; born 4 March 1954) is a French lawyer and politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 17 May 2007 to 16 May 2012. He was appointed by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. As a member of the UMP, Fillon became Jean-Pierre Raffarin's Minister of Labour in 2002 and undertook controversial reforms of the 35-hour working week law and of the French retirement system. Fillon became Minister of National Education in 2004 and proposed the much debated Fillon law on Education. In 2005, he was not included in the new government headed by Dominique de Villepin, but was elected Senator for the Sarthe Département. His role as a political advisor in Nicolas Sarkozy's successful race for President led to his becoming Prime Minister. Fillon resigned upon Sarkozy's defeat to François Hollande in the 2012 presidential elections. In 2013 during a visit in Russia, Fillon criticized the French government led by Francois Hollande for its support to a military intervention in Syria.