Patrice Vergriete

Patrice Vergriete
Minister Delegate for Transport
In office 8 February 2024 – 21 September 2024
Prime Minister	Gabriel Attal
Preceded by	Clément Beaune
Succeeded by	François Durovray
Minister Delegate for Housing
In office 20 July 2023 – 11 January 2024
Prime Minister	Élisabeth Borne
Preceded by	Olivier Klein
Succeeded by	Guillaume Kasbarian
Mayor of Dunkirk
In office 5 April 2014 – 29 September 2023
Preceded by	Michel Delebarre
Succeeded by	Jean Bodart
Personal details
Born	(1968-07-04) 4 July 1968 (age 56) Dunkirk, France
Political party	Miscellaneous left
Other political affiliations	Socialist Party (1993–2013)
Alma mater	École polytechnique

Patrice Vergriete (born 4 July 1968) is a French politician who has served as Minister Delegate for Transport in the government of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal from February to September 2024.^[1] He previously served as Mayor of Dunkirk (2014–2023) and Minister Delegate for Housing (2023–2024).^[2]

Biography

Born to a boilermaker father at Chantiers de France and a homemaker mother, Vergriete was raised in the bustling Glacis neighbourhood of Dunkirk.

Following his completion of the baccalaureate, he pursued further education in Paris by attending a scientific preparatory programme at the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Succeeding in the École polytechnique entrance exam, he became a member of the class of 1989.^[3]

In 1995, he specialised at the École des ponts ParisTech, obtaining his diploma to become a bridges, waters and forests engineer.^[4]

At the end of the 1990s, he began his professional career at the OECD, then joined the cabinets of Minister of Employment and Solidarity Martine Aubry and Minister for the City Claude Bartolone.^[5]

Political career

In 2014, Vergriete was elected Mayor of Dunkirk. On 1 September 2018, the implementation of free bus services was initiated, making the urban community of Dunkirk the largest urban area in Europe to offer unrestricted access to its entire bus network.^[6]

In December 2019, Vergriete declared his intention to run for a second term as mayor. He secured reelection in 2020 in the first round of voting with 64% of the total votes.^[7]

On 24 January 2023, he was appointed chair of the Agence de financement des infrastructures de transport de France (AFIT France) based on the recommendation from the Élysée.^[8][9]

In the July 2023 government reshuffle, Vergriete was appointed Minister Delegate for Housing in the government of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne.^[10] On 29 September 2023, following his appointment to the government, he stepped down from his position as Mayor of Dunkirk and assumed the role of first deputy mayor.^[11]

As of 8 February 2024, he holds the position of Minister Delegate for Transport in the government led by Gabriel Attal. As Transport Minister, he faced a series of railway arson attacks on 26 July 2024, the day of the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Paris.

References

1. Victor Goury-Laffont (8 February 2024), Macron completes painstaking reshuffle with EU affairs, health, energy appointments Politico Europe.
2. "Patrice Vergriete, l'homme fort de Dunkerque, promu ministre du logement". Le Monde.fr (in French). 23 July 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
3. "Association des anciens élèves et diplômés de l'École polytechnique - AX". AX POLYTECHNIQUE (in French). Retrieved 5 April 2024.
4. Arrêté du 20 mai 1996 portant attribution du diplôme d'ingénieur de l'Ecole nationale des ponts et chaussées à des élèves sortis en 1995, retrieved 5 April 2024.
5. Arrêté du 11 mai 1998 portant nomination au cabinet du ministre délégué à la ville, retrieved 5 April 2024.
6. "gratuité des transports : nos derniers articles et actualités | L'Humanité : lire, agir". L'Humanité (in French). Retrieved 5 April 2024.
7. "RÉSULTATS. Municipales à Dunkerque : le maire sortant Patrice Vergriete élu dès le premier tour". France 3 Hauts-de-France (in French). 15 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
8. "Patrice Vergriete proposé comme président de l'Agence de financement des infrastructures de transport de France". Le Figaro (in French). 2 December 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
9. Décret du 24 janvier 2023 portant nomination du président du conseil d'administration de l'Agence de financement des infrastructures de transport de France - M. VERGRIETE (Patrice), retrieved 5 April 2024.
10. "Remaniement : tout savoir sur Patrice Vergriete, le nouveau ministre délégué au Logement". CNEWS (in French). 20 July 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
11. "Dunkerque : Jean Bodart, un nouveau maire ému aux larmes" (in French). La Voix du Nord. 29 September 2023.