Isabelle Altmayer has played a significant role in Michel Barnier’s journey from being the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator to becoming the Prime Minister of France.
Altmayer may have stayed away from the spotlight, but her constant support for her husband’s success is undeniable.
Highlights
- The Spouse of France’s current Prime Minister, Isabelle Altmayer, formerly worked as a law professional for ten years.
- Isabelle is currently the head of communications and fundraising at the “Fondation La vie au Grand Air.”
- The couple has been married for over four decades and are proud parents of three children.
Barnier, who turned 73-year-old in January 2024, has been involved in French and European politics for the last four decades. The Prime Minister has also been married to his lady love for four decades.
Isabelle Altmayer Was Working As A Lawyer When She Met Michel Barnier
Isabelle Altmayer-Barnier is a former lawyer who worked at a law firm from 1981 to 1991. She met her spouse in the early 1980s and married in 1982.
As Barnier’s political career progressed, his wife also diverted her career path toward the field of communications and philanthropy.
Michel Barnier nommé Premier ministre : sa compagne, Isabelle, recadre déjà les journalistes, "évidemment qu’il est concentré" https://t.co/zQeKMDFaAK
— 24H Culte (@24sante_fr) September 5, 2024
According to her LinkedIn profile, Mrs. Barnier worked as a project manager at the Ministry of Health, Youth, and Sports from June 2007 to 2018, when Nicolas Sarkozy was president.
After that, she devoted herself to youth, women’s health, and nutrition while her husband was serving as the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
From 2013 to 2015, Michel Barnier’s wife worked as Director of Development and Partnerships at the Association of Citizen Entrepreneurs.
Presently, Isabelle Altmayer-Barnier is responsible for communications and fundraising for the “Fondation La vie au Grand Air.” It is an organization devoted to children’s protection.
Altmayer has been involved with the organization since April 2016. Mrs. Barnier’s commitment to humanitarian work is not limited to that.
She has chaired “Association Fraternité Universelle” in Haiti. AFU is a non-profit organization that is focused on supporting rural communities.
The Altmayer-Barnier Couple Share Three Children
The French prime minister and his spouse tied the knot in 1982. They have been merrily together since then.
During their four decades-long marital life, the married duo has supported one another’s careers wholeheartedly.
In addition to being remarkable people of their country, they are also parents of three children: Nicolas (born in 1987), and twins, Benjamin and Laetitia (born in 1990).
The first son of Isabelle Altmayer and Michel Barnier, Nicolas Barnier, is also involved in French politics.
The eldest of the Barnier siblings reportedly ran for the European elections in 2019 on a Belgian liberal list.
In addition, Nicolas has also been a project manager at the Senate since 2021. Like his mother, he is also involved in philanthropic works.
Additional Information
- According to Media Mass, Michel Barnier is one of the highest-paid politicians in the world, with a net worth of $185 million.
- He was born in 1951 at La Tronche in the French Alps (into a Gaullist family).
- While Michel Barnier’s father, Jean Barnier, was a textile and leather craftsman, his mom, Denise Durand, was actively involved in Christian left.
- He has two brothers whose names and ages are unknown.
