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Thierry Mariani (; born 8 August 1958) is a French politician serving as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2019. He previously served as Minister in charge of Transport under the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable development, Transport and Housing from 2010 to 2012 (with the title of Secretary of State until 2011). A former member of The Republicans (LR), he has been an Independent since 2019. "French MPs' Crimea visit condemned by France and Ukraine", BBC News, 23 July 2015.
Mariani joined the National Rally (RN) list for the 2019 European Parliament election. In the 2021 regional election, he led the party's list in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Although he was ahead in the polls for both the first and second round of voting, which would have made him the first president of a Regional Council affiliated with the National Rally, he placed second in the election's second round, losing to incumbent Renaud Muselier, caused by a low turnout rate induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and an election delay.
In 2015, Mariani prepared the Council of Europe's report on Chinese migration to Europe, in which he raised "human rights concerns with regard to trafficking and smuggling rings, the lack of legal protection, and the poor work conditions these immigrants often face". From 2012 to 2017, Mariani was a member of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In this capacity, he served as head of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons;Tara Palmeri (22 April 2015), Refugee crisis pits Europe’s north vs south Politico Europe. as member of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee); and as member of the Sub-Committee on Crime Problems and the Fight against Terrorism. In 2017, he served as the National Assembly's rapporteur on Poland. The functioning of democratic institutions in Poland: visit by co-rapporteurs Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, press release of 30 March 2017.
Mariani was chosen to lead the National Rally list in the 2021 regional election in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, where he challenged Renaud Muselier's presidency over the regional council. Some commentators deemed the election to be the National Rally's best chance to win a regional majority for the first time in its history. However, his list placed second (42.7%) in the second round after winning the first (36.3%).
The PACE investigation report mentions Mariani as one of the MPs who were not sensitive to human rights violations in Azerbaijan and were backing the Azerbaijani authorities in the PACE. Mariani figures prominently as a friend of the Aliyev regime in the French documentary series by France 2, called Cash Investigation: Mon président est en voyage d’affaires. Mariani has personal relations with the Aliyev family; he has repeatedly spoken alongside Mehriban Aliyeva, Azerbaijan's First Lady, at several Azerbaijani-organised events in France. Mariani is the Chairman of the NGO L'Eurasie, les nouveaux horizons, a member-organisation of the European Academy for Election Observation, an election observation NGO founded by Azerbaijan apologists Stef Goris and Alain Destexhe, which has promoted Azerbaijani interests in Europe. In 2010, the NGO L'Eurasie, les nouveaux horizons co-organised an event with an NGO led by Elkhan Suleymanov, an Azerbaijani MP at the centre of lobbying scandals in the PACE. He was also one of the key persons of the Azerbaijani Laundromat.
In November 2018, Mariani traveled to Donetsk to act as an observer in the general elections in the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.
In September 2021, two preliminary investigations concerning him were started, in connection with his activities within the Franco-Russian Dialogue association. He is suspected of corruption, breach of trust and money laundering as well as influence peddling, since benefits, suspicious financial transactions and travels could have been possible compensation for positions favorable to the Kremlin.
Member of the Government of France: Secretary of State for Transport: 2010–2011; Minister in charge of Transport: 2011–2012.
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament for France: 2019–present. Elected in 2019.
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly for Vaucluse (4th constituency): 1993–2010 (resigned to become Secretary of State). Elected in 1993, reelected in 1997, 2002 and 2007.
Member of the National Assembly for French residents overseas (11th constituency): 2012–2017. Elected in 2012.
Regional council
Regional councillor of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur: 1992–1993 (resignation). 2004–2015. Elected in 1992, reelected in 2004 and 2010.
General council
Vice President of the General Council of Vaucluse: 1992–2001. Elected in 1992, reelected in 1994 and 1998.
General councillor of Vaucluse (canton of Valréas): 1988–2001. Elected in 1988, reelected in 1994 and 1998.
Municipal council
Mayor of Valréas: 1989–2005 (resignation). Elected in 1989, reelected in 1995 and 2001.
Municipal councillor of Valréas: 1989–2005 (resignation). Elected in 1989, reelected in 1995 and 2001.
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