Séverine Cao

**Children** | 2

**Séverine Bích Hải Thị Cao** (born 22 August 1965) is a Maronan politician from Tahare who has served as a member of the General Council of Tahare since 2016. She is a member of the Socialist Party.

Cao was born in Sainte-Anne to Esmanese parents, and educated at Lycée Sainte-Marie. After completing secondary school in 1983 and a CPGE course in 1985, Cao relocated to Delmas to enroll in EEP Delmas, completing a bachelor's degree in political science in 1986, and a master's degree in 1988. She subsequently enrolled in the École nationale d'administration in Viersbourg, and graduated with a master's degree in public administration in 1990. After completing her education, Cao returned to Delmas, where she worked in various positions within the Maronan national government.

Cao relocated to Tahare in 2015, and later entered elected politics the following year after she was elected to the general council in the 2016 regional election. Cao later ran against Antoine Domeur in Tahare's 7th constituency for the 2019 legislative election, but was defeated in a close election. Cao was reelected to the general council in the 2022 regional election, and afterwards was appointed by Morgane Charucan as vice president for government affairs.

## Early life and education

Cao was born on 22 August 1965 in Sainte-Anne, on the island of Tahare, to parents Cao Văn Hồng Quang (born 1935) and Lê Thị Nhật Hạ (born 1936). Her parents married in Esman and relocated to Tahare in 1958, as economic immigrants looking for better opportunities. After arriving in Tahare, her parents began using the names Pierre and Régine Cao, respectively, in their personal lives, due to the difficulties with pronouncing their Esmanese names. Shortly after arriving, they opened a dry cleaning business, which proved to be successful, leading to the family owning and managing six dry cleaning locations across Tahare. Cao was born with the legal name Séverine Bích Hải Thị Cao, with *Cao Thị Bích Hải* serving as her Esmanese name, and Séverine Cao as her Maronan name. She is the youngest of three children and only daughter; her elder brothers include Ludovic (born 1962) and Gérald (born 1963). The family initially resided in the Éclat-de-Lune neighborhood of Sainte-Anne, before relocating to a large home in the Brise-en-Crique neighborhood following the success of their dry cleaning business.

Cao began her education in 1970, attending private, Eurean Catholic schooling for girls in Sainte-Anne. While in school, Cao was a gifted student and was also encouraged by her parents to prioritize her education and strive for greatness. She graduated from primary school in 1977, and later completed *collège* as well in 1980. After graduating, Cao enrolled in Lycée Sainte-Marie, a private, coeducational, Eurean Catholic *lycée* and the most prestigious secondary school in Tahare, where she studied a *lycée académique* program in literature and languages. Cao graduated with honors in 1983, and afterwards remained at the school to pursue a a CPGE course, studying political science and public administration. She completed the course in 1985, and afterwards moved to Delmas to enroll in EEP Delmas, graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1986, and a master's degree in 1988. After her graduation, Cao was recruited to enroll in the École nationale d'administration in Viersbourg, and graduated with a master's degree in public administration in 1990.

## Personal life

Cao married Maronan political advisor Jean-Luc Gascur in 1993, following a four-year relationship. They first met as students at the École nationale d'administration. Cao and Gascur have two sons together: Quentin (born 1994) and Lucien (born 1996). The family resided in Soilly-sur-Maré until 2015, when Cao and Gascur relocated to Saint-Pierre in Tahare; her sons continue to reside in Île-de-Marone.

Cao is fluent in Maronan, Taharian Creole, Esmanese, Ditrovian, and Standard Shinese. Growing up, Cao was raised within Esmanese folk religion, but no longer considers herself a follower of the religious practices.