Hanane Mansouri, a 23-year-old law student, has become the youngest member of the French National Assembly after winning the 8th constituency of Isère with 54.10% of the vote against her left-wing rival Cécile Michel.
Her victory marks shift in French politics as she represents the alliance between Eric Ciotti’s Republicans (LR) and the far-right National Rally (RN).
Mansouri’s political journey began in high school, where she was motivated to challenge the left-wing views expressed by her teachers, particularly in economics and social sciences classes: She felt that “their message of limited opportunities for second-generation immigrants was discouraging and untrue, and she believed in hard work and determination as the keys to success instead.”
Mansouri’s personal background and her new role as a deputy have inspired her to become a role model for young people, demonstrating that hard work can pay off. While identifying as “of Maghreb origin,” she prefers to keep her personal life private, especially to protect her family.
Despite being a student, Mansouri is committed to being a “hands-on deputy” while pursuing her master’s degree in public administration. She assures her constituents that her studies will not prevent her from representing their concerns in the National Assembly, addressing critics who questioned her ability to balance both roles.
Born and raised in Grenoble, Mansouri has faced accusations of being an outsider in the 8th constituency she now represents. She denies these claims, explaining that she spent her childhood from CE1 to Terminale in a village in the north of Isère, within the 7th constituency, further asserting her familiarity with the 8th constituency, and stating that she and her fellow young republicans often campaigned there, allowing her to gain a deep understanding of the area’s issues.
During her undergraduate studies in law, Mansouri served as president of the Young Republicans of Isère.
Following Eric Ciotti’s call, she was nominated as a legislative candidate, a decision that drew criticism from some Republicans. When asked about her decision, Mansouri emphasized the importance of “uniting the right” and praised Ciotti’s courage in allying, as she strongly opposes President Emmanuel Macron’s “disorder” and the “chaos of the far left.”
