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Benoît Payan
Benoît Payan ([bənwa pajɑ̃] ⓘ; born 31 January 1978) is a French politician who has served as Mayor of Marseille since 2020. He was a member of the Socialist Party (PS) until 2020.
Payan was born and raised in the Pont-de-Vivaux neighbourhood in the 10th arrondissement of Marseille, the son of a carpenter and civil servant. He is of Italian origin. During his studies to become a notary, he joined the Young Socialist Movement.
Payan served as an adviser to Michel Vauzelle when he was President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, then to Marie-Arlette Carlotti when she served in government (2012–2014).
Elected a municipal councillor in 2014 for the 3rd sector (4th and 5th arrondissements), Payan became leader of the Socialist group in the municipal council in 2016, then the main opposition group to Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin's conservative administration. In 2015, he was also elected to the Departmental Council of Bouches-du-Rhône for the canton of Marseille-1 alongside Michèle Rubirola, a position he was reelected to in 2021.
In July 2019, Payan was one of the founders of Printemps marseillais ("Marseille Spring"), a broad left-wing electoral alliance seeking to end Gaudin's quarter-century in office in the 2020 election. He criticised the candidacy of Socialist dissenter Samia Ghali, believing it could divide the vote and hand victory to the right by default.
Payan's coalition won the election in July, installing Europe Ecology – The Greens member Michèle Rubirola as Marseille's first woman and Green mayor. Payan was reelected a municipal councillor, this time for the 2nd sector (2nd and 3rd arrondissements). Rubirola unexpectedly resigned on 15 December 2020, citing health reasons, transferring roles with Payan, her first deputy. On 21 December he was officially voted into office, with support from Ghali's eight councillors and without competition from the right.
In January 2023, Payan confirmed that he was no longer a member of the Socialist Party. This emerged when he stated he was ineligible to vote for any candidate for First Secretary of the party.
On 29 January 2025, Payan was named a knight of the Legion of Honour. The official statement recognised "22 years of service".
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Benoît Payan
Benoît Payan ([bənwa pajɑ̃] ⓘ; born 31 January 1978) is a French politician who has served as Mayor of Marseille since 2020. He was a member of the Socialist Party (PS) until 2020.
Payan was born and raised in the Pont-de-Vivaux neighbourhood in the 10th arrondissement of Marseille, the son of a carpenter and civil servant. He is of Italian origin. During his studies to become a notary, he joined the Young Socialist Movement.
Payan served as an adviser to Michel Vauzelle when he was President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, then to Marie-Arlette Carlotti when she served in government (2012–2014).
Elected a municipal councillor in 2014 for the 3rd sector (4th and 5th arrondissements), Payan became leader of the Socialist group in the municipal council in 2016, then the main opposition group to Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin's conservative administration. In 2015, he was also elected to the Departmental Council of Bouches-du-Rhône for the canton of Marseille-1 alongside Michèle Rubirola, a position he was reelected to in 2021.
In July 2019, Payan was one of the founders of Printemps marseillais ("Marseille Spring"), a broad left-wing electoral alliance seeking to end Gaudin's quarter-century in office in the 2020 election. He criticised the candidacy of Socialist dissenter Samia Ghali, believing it could divide the vote and hand victory to the right by default.
Payan's coalition won the election in July, installing Europe Ecology – The Greens member Michèle Rubirola as Marseille's first woman and Green mayor. Payan was reelected a municipal councillor, this time for the 2nd sector (2nd and 3rd arrondissements). Rubirola unexpectedly resigned on 15 December 2020, citing health reasons, transferring roles with Payan, her first deputy. On 21 December he was officially voted into office, with support from Ghali's eight councillors and without competition from the right.
In January 2023, Payan confirmed that he was no longer a member of the Socialist Party. This emerged when he stated he was ineligible to vote for any candidate for First Secretary of the party.
On 29 January 2025, Payan was named a knight of the Legion of Honour. The official statement recognised "22 years of service".