Julie Verninac

**Julie Suzette Verninac** (born June 5, 1960) is an Estdanian politician, who served as President of Estdania from 2017 to 2021. Later, she served shortly as Vice President of Estdania from 9 August to 2 November 2022. From 2006 to 2017 she held various ministerial positions. She is a member of The Centre. She is known for her fight for women's rights.

## Early life

Julie Suzette Verninac was born on 5 June 1960, in Estaux. Her father Jacques Verninac was a professor at the University of Estaux and her mother Angeline Larola was a nurse. Verninac is of European and Ermo Talal descent.

## Political career (1985-2017)

Verninac began her political career in local government, serving on the Estaux City Council. In 2002, she made the move to national politics and joined The Centre. In 2006, she was appointed as the Minister of Social Affairs, where she quickly gained attention for her feminist stance and dedication to improving social welfare for all citizens.

In October 2007, Verninac made headlines when she publicly called for the resignation of President Yves Fétique, citing his negative impact on the party's image. She even threatened to resign from her own ministerial position if Fétique did not step down. Her bold stance and commitment to maintaining integrity in politics gained her respect from many colleagues and the public.

In 2013, Verninac was appointed as the Minister of Culture, where she continued to promote and support the arts and cultural initiatives in Estdania. She also became increasingly active within her political party, The Centre, and in 2014, Verninac was elected as the party's leader. Later that year, she also took on the role of Minister of the Interior.

## Presidency (2017-2021)

In the 2016 Estdanian general election, Verninac successfully ran for the presidency, taking advantage of the declining popularity of the Estdanian People's Party. During her presidency, Verninac made significant changes to the country's social and political landscape. One of her major accomplishments was legalizing same-sex marriage in 2018, a decision that was met with both praise and criticism.

Verninac's presidency was also marked by her efforts to promote gender equality and protect women's rights. She worked towards closing the gender pay gap, implementing paid parental leave, and increasing access to education and healthcare for women. Her advocacy for women's rights earned her the respect and support of many citizens.

Throughout her career, Verninac has also been a strong advocate for environmental protection, proposing legislation to reduce carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy sources. She has also been a vocal supporter of healthcare reform, working towards providing affordable and accessible healthcare for all citizens.

## Coalition with EPP and Vice Presidency (2021-2022)

In the 2021 Estdanian general election, Verninac lost to Franc Kangal of the EPP. The Centre then entered into a coalition with the EPP.

The coalition between The Centre and EPP proved to be unstable, with disagreements on policies and political agendas. On August 9, 2022, Kangal shocked the nation by sacking his Vice President, Mathias Pernet, and appointing Verninac as the new Vice President. This move was seen as a betrayal by members of the EPP since it gave more power to The Centre in the government. Verninac's decision to accept the position of Vice President was a strategic move to gain more power in the coalition and prevent the right-wing policies of Kangal from impacting her party. She frequently threatened to leave the coalition, causing strain in the government.

On 2 November 2022, the coalition finally collapsed after a meeting between Kangal and far-right political commentator Maxence Leerange. The government was heavily criticized by opposition parties and members of the EPP for putting personal interests above the country's stability.

The fallout of the coalition between the Estdanian People's Party and The Centre caused a dip in their popularity. In the snap elections, they were defeated by the Independent Liberal Party, led by Simon Bonnaire.

After the defeat, Verninac stepped down as the leader of The Centre and was replaced by Pierre Singer.