Samia Ghali was born on 10 June 1968 in Marseille, Southern France.[1][2][3] She grew up in Bassens and Campagne Lévêque, two council estates in Marseille, where she was raised by her Algerian-born grandparents.[2][3]
She received a Certificat d'Aptitude Professionnelle (CAP), or professional certificate, as a secretary and accountant.[3]
Career
Ghali became active in politics at the age of 16.[3] She was elected to the municipal council of Marseille in 2001.[2]
In 2012, she suggested the French Army should be sent to the neighbourhoods of Northern Marseille to put an end to drug-trafficking.[3] In June 2015, her own chauffeur was arrested by police in a drug-trafficking raid in La Castellane.[4] She said she was "shocked" and "astounded".[4]
In the 2020 municipal election, Ghali ran for Mayor of Marseille, though the Socialist Party's official stance was to support the Printemps marseillais ("Marseille Spring") coalition headed by Europe Ecology – The Greens candidate Michèle Rubirola. Benoît Payan, the city's Socialist leader, accused Ghali of splitting the left-wing vote.[5] Later that year, after Rubirola's resignation from the mayorship, Ghali's contingent of eight councillors voted in favour of First Deputy Mayor Payan becoming the new mayor.[6]