Manon Aubry

découvrez manon aubry, députée européenne engagée, défenseuse des droits sociaux et environnementaux en europe.
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It’s crazy to think that Manon Aubry, already 35 years old, born on December 22, 1989, in Fréjus, has become one of the most striking voices of the European left. With her 1.72 meters, this French politician does not go unnoticed, neither by her stature, nor by her commitment, nor by her presence in the European Parliament. Well, you’ll tell me, we mainly know her as an MEP and her role as co-chair of the Left group since 2019.

But behind this successful political career, there is a meaningful path. Coming from a family where politics is in the air (her father is a journalist and her mother a political activist), Manon chose the path of activism very early. It’s no surprise to see her take on hot topics like tax evasion or social issues. It is in these fights that she has forged her public identity, always on the side of the oppressed, and with a frankness that does not leave anyone indifferent.

Even before putting a foot in the European Parliament, her experience at Oxfam France weighed heavily. For several years, she campaigned against inequalities and the great fortunes that fool the tax authorities, which surely did nothing to improve her reputation as a “woman who disturbs.” Honestly, that builds a character! And imagine, her activist career even started in Africa, where she worked on human rights issues in Liberia and the DRC.

That’s why her nomination as the head of La France Insoumise’s list for the 2019 European elections caused quite a stir. Her election to the European Parliament with an honorable score, then her reelection in 2024 with an even more impressive result of 9 seats for LFI, testify to this. She continues to embody the energy of a left that does not want to give up the fight, whether for tax justice or human rights.

Who is Manon Aubry, this committed MEP shaking up European politics?

Manon Aubry is this activist who entered politics with rare energy. Even though she was born in Fréjus, in Var, you feel she has always wanted to go beyond borders, whether geographical or ideological. In fact, she studied at Sciences Po Paris, an elite often criticized, but she used it to strengthen her convictions, especially in human rights and development. Moreover, during her studies, she was even the local president of UNEF, the student union.

What struck me is her very early engagement in youth fights. You know, in 2006, she was already fully against the first employment contract, organizing high school blockades… not the type to take things lying down, huh. And she continued on her path, never betraying her values. A fine example of perseverance that commands respect.

Another thing I found very human is that she competed in swimming when she was younger. Yes, she has this sporty side! She even continues playing water polo in Paris, which is no small feat when you know how demanding it is energy-wise. This combative side on the sports field matches her similarly fiery political temperament.

Oh, and I can’t forget to mention her family because she is still deeply rooted in an environment where politics and journalism are not strangers. Her mother, Catherine Poggi-Aubry, is also a recognized activist, and her grandfather was a left-wing activist in Corsica. It’s a whole political heritage, but also a source of inspiration.

The professional journey before fame: from humanitarian fieldwork to NGOs

Manon is not the type to be satisfied with speeches. After her studies, she went straight to the field, in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she worked with Médecins du Monde and The Carter Center. There, she closely followed the human rights situation and especially the damage caused by mining exploitation, a hot topic that undoubtedly left a deep mark on her.

Then, her engagement became international with Oxfam France, where she became the leading mind on the fight against tax evasion and inequalities. That, my friends, gave her a truly powerful platform. She produced several reports that sparked controversy, denouncing the practices of multinationals bypassing rules to rake in huge profits.

At the same time, she never gave up on her other passion: teaching. Since 2014, she has been sharing her knowledge on human rights at Sciences Po Paris. Just that. You sense a woman who loves to share, to shift boundaries, both with activists and students.

Not to mention her love for challenges: in 2019, she even embarked on a bike journey — yes, yes — to meet citizens often forgotten in the great European machine. She wanted to show that politics can be done differently, closer to the grassroots, more committed. Honestly, it is refreshing in this often too rigid world.

Highlights of Manon Aubry’s political career in Brussels and Strasbourg

Elected in 2019 at the head of the LFI list, she became the youngest group president in the European Parliament, co-chairing with the German MEP Martin Schirdewan. A powerful role when you know that it is at the heart of economic, legal, and development committees that she proposes her ideas and really influences debates.

She also took frankly blunt positions, particularly denouncing the opacity of European institutions or firmly opposing tax evasion, with a gesture that made me smile: offering Jean-Claude Juncker a pack of fake bills at his departure, a sharp attack against the Luxembourg Leaks scandal.

On the confrontation side, Manon often put her foot in it. She received a reprimand in 2019 for encouraging an occupation of the European Parliament by Extinction Rebellion. Also, she was fined for helping migrants in Calais, defying laws that forbid solidarity. You feel she is ready to fight, even risking offending.

She is often at the center of controversies, especially regarding her statements on racism or international diplomacy. What divides, but says a lot about her style: no beating around the bush, and a political vision she fully assumes, even if it shakes things up.

A list of commitments and projects led by Manon Aubry as a European elected representative

  • 🌍 Fight against tax evasion by multinationals, particularly in European tax havens.
  • 🤝 Defense of human rights, notably migrants, with a direct and supportive approach.
  • 🚴‍♀️ Initiatives to bring citizens closer to European institutions, like the 2019 bike journey.
  • ⚖️ Protection of women, with strong actions against femicides and sexist violence.
  • 🦠 Commitment to transparency in health management, like during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • 🌱 Support for ecological policies via the Green New Deal intergroup.

All this, combined with an often very fierce opposition stance, which sometimes grinds some teeth but pushes debate and reflection. In short, Manon Aubry is a figure that does not leave anyone indifferent.

What is known (or not) about Manon Aubry’s private life, between family and commitments

You know what? Despite her busy career, Manon does not dive into the celebrity buzz. No flashy marriages or ultra-medialized life. But we know that her family is also very involved in politics: her mother even ran under her colors for La France Insoumise in legislative elections. It’s quite rare, this family transmission.

And even in her leisure, you find this fierce energy. Her attachment to water polo, this passion she still practices in Paris, shows she knows how to unwind and keep a balanced life. In Paris, apparently, she has loyal friends and remains accessible despite her status.

It’s rather paradoxical, her profile. Both this serious and rigorous activist, but also this girl close to the field, to people, who doesn’t want politics to be a separate world. You feel that it truly matters to her to stay connected to real society.

The engaged family side, grassroots activism, makes her image more human, more tangible than this “MEP” caricature. And that, for me, is the key to understanding why she appeals to quite a few people, even if not everyone agrees with her.

Controversies and key moments that have marked her political journey

It must be said that Manon Aubry has never shied away from controversy. An excess of frankness, no doubt. For example, in 2020, she caused an uproar by relativizing certain forms of racism, which triggered strong reactions in the media. Far from being an accident, it’s rather her style of calling everything into question.

In 2024 too, her nuanced position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine made waves. She pleaded for diplomacy and defended a certain sensitivity towards Ukraine and Russia, which doesn’t always match her camp’s majority line. An attitude that draws criticism but clearly illustrates her desire to break out of the beaten path.

We can also mention her candidacy as head of the LFI list in 2024, where she significantly improved the party’s results, reaching almost 10% of the vote. Honestly, that was not a given, and there, hats off.

The last few months also saw her clash with Valérie Hayer, with defamation complaints and all the fuss. Shows that even in Brussels, things move in “serious but not tame” mode. These kinds of twists make the European political scene a little more human (and more fun).

To follow her positions and news, I really invite you to visit her official website or her Facebook page. That’s where she often shares her outbursts and fights, always with this contagious energy.

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