Overview

• Councillors meeting in Bordeaux chose the 72-year-old professor of economics and former senior finance official on Thursday evening.
• He takes over from Nicolas Penin for a one-year term under rules that cap service on the governing council at three years.
• In initial remarks, he named the refoundation of the social pact as his guiding thread and warned of multiple threats to the rule of law.
• He plans to increase outward engagement to dispel myths about Freemasonry through actions such as volunteering with Restos du Coeur or serving in municipal roles.
• The Grand Orient reports more than 55,000 members across about 1,400 lodges, with women now roughly 12–13% after opening membership to them in 2010.