Marie-Ange Choffard

**Marie-Ange Choffard** (born 28 January 1950) is a Maronan politician and educator. Dubbed the "Iron Lady of Carandie," she has been active in Carandie politics since the 1980s, including serving as president of the Regional Council of Carandie since 2003, the first woman to serve in the position. Choffard is a member of the Socialist Party.

Choffard was born in Bruc and raised in the working-class suburb of Chèvenon-le-Lossay. After completing her secondary school education at Lycée Barthélemy Bourbeau in Bruc in 1968, Choffard enrolled in the University of Carandie, Bruc, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1971, a master's degree in 1973, and later a doctoral degree in 1996. After completing her master's degree in 1973, Choffard sat for the *examen d'aptitude en enseignement professionnel* (EAEP) exam, and became certified to work as an educator. She accepted a teaching assignment and worked at a *lycée* in Tahare as a politics and government teacher from 1973 until 1978, after which she sat for the *agrégation* exam, subsequently returning to Bruc and beginning to teach a *classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles* (CPGE) course at Lycée Armand Cahun. In 1993, she left the school to join the University of Carandie, Bruc as a *professeure universitaire*, teaching courses in political science, before leaving teaching in 2008, after her election to national office.

Choffard began her political career in 1980, following her election to the municipal council of Chèvenon-le-Lossay. She was reelected in 1986, when she became the mayor of Chèvenon-le-Lossay, the first woman to hold this position in the *commune'*s history. Choffard later entered regional politics in 1992, after being elected to the Regional Council of Carandie as one of the regional councillors of Lentignac. She was reelected to the regional council in 1998, and following her reelection in 2004, was elected president of the regional council by her fellow regional councillors, becoming the first woman to serve as president of the Regional Council of Carandie. Choffard began her career in national politics in 2008, when she was chosen by the Socialist Party to serve as its candidate in Lentignac's 3rd constituency in the 2009 legislative election. She was ultimately elected to the Chamber of Representatives following the second round of voting. As a national deputy, Choffard has positioned herself on the left-wing of the Socialist Party. Choffard later resigned her municipal offices and Chamber of Representatives seat in February 2023, following the prohibition of dual mandates in Maronan politics.

Choffard has established herself as a widely popular and well-known political figure in Carandie, often being called one of the most popular politicians in Marone. Since 2003, she has been theorized as a potential future president of Marone, although she has frequently denied any interest in running for president, and has never declared a presidential candidacy.

## Early life and education

Choffard was born on 28 January 1950 in Bruc to parents Arnaud (1927–1958) and Sophie Choffard (née *Bernier*; 1927–2019). Both of her parents were blue-collar workers from the working-class; her father was a factory worker, while her mother worked as a nail technician at a salon. They were both active in Socialist politics, and her maternal grandfather Simone Bernier (1900–1975) served as a member of the municipal council of Chèvenon-le-Lossay for one term in the 1940s, as a Socialist. Choffard grew up as an only child.

Choffard began her education in 1955, attending a local, public primary school in Bruc. In 1958, her father died in a machinery accident at his job, aged 31. Afterwards, Choffard and her mother moved in with her maternal grandparents in Chèvenon-le-Lossay, a working-class suburb of Bruc, where she was raised. Choffard has spoken about the trauma she went through in the aftermath of her father's death, and how it inspired her to pursue politics and advocate for workers' safety. Choffard graduated from primary school in 1962, later completing *collège* as well in 1965. Afterwards, she enrolled in Lycée Barthélemy Bourbeau, studying a *lycée académique* program in economics and social sciences, and graduated in 1968.

After completing her secondary education, Choffard considered pursuing further education at a *grande école*, but was persuaded by her family to attend a public university instead, as they believed she would not fit in at an elite school due to her socioeconomic background. Choffard later enrolled in the University of Carandie, Bruc, receiving a bachelor's degree in political science and education in 1971, and later a master's degree in political science and education in 1973. She began a doctoral degree program in political science in 1989, and completed her degree in 1993.

## Teaching career

After completing her master's degree in 1973, Choffard sat for the *examen d'aptitude en enseignement professionnel* (EAEP) exam in June 1973. Despite performing strongly, Choffard opted to accept an assignment in Tahare, an overseas region, a choice typically reserved for individuals from overseas Marone and those from metropolitan Marone who score poorly on the exam. She was subsequently assigned to Lycée Charlotte Dubost, a *lycée* in the city of Sainte-Anne. While at Lycée Charlotte Dubost, Choffard taught courses in Maronan politics, government, and civics. Choffard has said that she chose to relocate to Tahare mainly due to her "wanderlust."

After five years of teaching in Tahare, Choffard sat for the *agrégation* exam in 1978, subsequently becoming a senior certified teacher. Choffard ranked in the top 1% of test-takers nationwide, and chose to return to Bruc and accept an assignment at Lycée Armand Cahun, the most exclusive *lycée* in the city. While at Lycée Armand Cahun, Choffard was assigned to teach students enrolled in a *classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles* (CPGE) course, teaching classes in political science and public administration. She remained at the school until 1993, when she was hired to teach political science at the University of Carandie, Bruc as a *professeure universitaire*. She later received tenure at the university in 2004, and continued to teach until resigning in 2008, in order to enter national politics.

## Personal life

Choffard began a relationship with Maronan psychologist Jean-Luc Coffarel in 1981. At the time, Choffard worked as a teacher at Lycée Armand Cahun, while Coffarel was a *chercheur-enseigneur* at the University of Carandie, Bruc, teaching courses in theoretical psychology. They became engaged in 1984, and married later that year at the Chèvenon-le-Lossay Town Hall, with only their families present.

Choffard and Coffarel have two sons together: Sebastien (born 1986) and Pierre (born 1987). Both of their sons later began careers in politics as well. The family resides in Chèvenon-le-Lossay, while Choffard also rents apartments in Avirac and Delmas for her legislative duties.