She was to pose for the municipal campaign photo but, this Sunday in January 2014, Violette Spillebout, the former head and then director of the cabinet at the Lille town hall of Martine Aubry, is absent. However, she was more than expected to be on the list. It was understood that she would be in ninth position and that the position of educational assistant would go to her. It was without counting a falling out with Mme Aubry who encysted herself until, six years later, the former collaborator became a fierce opposition candidate. Elected in 2020 at the head of the list “Make Lille breathe”, arriving third behind those of the socialists and environmentalists, Violette Spillebout had joined the “walkers”, behind Emmanuel Macron, in 2017. The break with Lille socialism was consummated.
Daughter of an agronomist and a teacher, Mme Spillebout arrived at the town hall of Lille at the age of 25, as project manager for Pierre Mauroy – emblematic city councilor of the capital of Flanders for twenty-eight years –, after studies in public health, a first experience in a consulting firm then a DESS in business management. She is now 49. Her husband, Olivier Spillebout, created the Maison de la photographie, located in the popular district of Fives, to which the city cut subsidies, condemning it to closure. A decision that soured relations with Mme Aubry.
Pugnacity
Reputed to be hardworking and enduring, Mme Spillebout had eased off at the SNCF, where she moved on to several positions until that of assistant to the HRD of the TGV North axis. During the legislative campaign, we saw her a lot on the ground. The 9e constituency straddles a piece of Lille, a good part of Tourcoing and rather well-to-do towns between the two. Gérald Darmanin, who ended up showing his support for the one he had observed with suspicion for a long time, had hesitated to present himself there, finally preferring the neighboring constituency, the 10e.
Elected deputy under the label “La République en Marche-Ensemble!” she confides her desire to join the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Education. She is frequently invited on television sets, where she is pugnacious and at ease. She could well join the small group of spokespersons for her group in the National Assembly. Violette Spillebout is a prudent woman, ” very cold and smooth”say its detractors, “endowed with great composure”, prefer his supporters.