Chloé Philippine

**Chloé Corinne Philippine** (born 29 April 1970) is a Maronan politician from New Malonia who has served as president of New Malonia since 2022. She has additionally led the Malonia United political party since 2018.

Philippine was born in Tooka to a *Métropolitain* family, and was raised in Pont-des-Maronais. After completing her secondary education in 1988, Philippine moved to Arrigas-le-Nord to enroll in Argenvin University, receiving a bachelor's degree in history and education in 1991, and a master's degree from Côte Turquoise University in 1993. Philippine subsequently worked as a *collège* history teacher in Barn-et-Gastonne, before becoming a *lycée* history teacher in Tooka in 2002. Philippine continued teaching until 2016, when she entered regional politics.

Philippine began her political career in 2004, after she was elected to the Tooka municipal council for the anti-independence Malonia United political party in the 2004 municipal elections. After being reelected in 2010 municipal elections, Philippine entered regional politics following her election to the General Council of New Malonia in the 2016 regional election. Philippine was elected leader of Malonia United in 2018, following the resignation of Bernard Goute, and later led the party to victory in the 2022 regional election, becoming the first woman to serve as president of New Malonia.

## Early life, education, and teaching career

Philippine was born on 29 April 1970 in Tooka, in the overseas region of New Malonia, to parents Jean-Louis (born 1942) and Salomé Philippine (née *Derus*; born 1944). Both of her parents came from *Métropolitain* backgrounds with roots in New Malonia; her great-grandparents arrived in New Malonia from metropolitan Marone in the 1910s, to work in the emerging mining industry. Growing up, Philippine was upper-middle-class; her father was a physical therapist, while her mother was a homemaker. Philippine is the elder of two daughters; her younger sister is Cécile (born 1973).

Philippine began her education in 1975, attending private, Eurean Catholic schooling in Tooka. In 1978, at age eight, the family relocated to the suburb of Pont-des-Maronais, and Philippine continued her education in public school. Philippine later completed primary school in 1982, and graduated from *collège* in 1985. She subsequently enrolled in a *lycée académique* program in Pont-des-Maronais to study literature and languages, graduating with honors in 1988. Following her graduation, Philippine moved to metropolitan Marone to enroll in Argenvin University in Arrigas-le-Nord, studying history and education. Philippine had opted to relocate to metropolitan Marone for her university studies in order to get away from the sectarian conflicts amidst The Era of Instability that were frequent in New Malonia during the 1970s and 1980s. As a university student, Philippine competed in the Miss Argenvin 1989 beauty pageant, but did not place. Philippine graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1991, and later received a master's degree from Côte Turquoise University in Dax in 1993.

In 1993, Philippine sat for the *examen d'aptitude en enseignement professionnel* (EAEP), and became eligible to work as a certified teacher. She subsequently relocated to Barn-et-Gastonne, where she began working as a *collège* history teacher in the town of Laurabuc. Philippine later sat for the *agrégation* exam in 2002, and afterwards returned to New Malonia to begin working as a *lycée* history teacher in Tooka.

## Personal life

Philippine married Maronan journalist Martin Ruitier in 2000, following a two-year relationship, after meeting at a bar in Barn-et-Gastonne. Philippine and Ruitier have three sons together: Quentin (born 2001), Maxime (born 2004), and Philippe (born 2007). The family resided together in Tooka from 2002 until 2019, when they purchased a home in Pont-des-Maronais.