Gilles Bourdouleix

Gilles Bourdouleix is a French politician and lawyer who served as the Mayor of Cholet from 1995 to 2026. He also served as a member of the National Assembly of France for Maine-et-Loire's 5th constituency from 2002 to 2017. Throughout his career, he has been associated with various political movements, including the UMP, the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI), and the National Centre of Independents and Peasants (CNIP), which he presided over from 2009 to 2015. Known for his long tenure in local government, Bourdouleix has also faced significant legal and political controversy, including a conviction related to remarks made about Romani people in 2013. After losing his mayoral seat in the 2026 municipal elections, he has remained active in local political discourse.