Mayada Boulos, it is for her that the journalist and host Thomas Sotto (48), decided to withdraw from the political program Elysee 2022, launched in September on France 2 with Léa Salamé on the sidelines of the presidential elections. “Their romance would have started this summer, but had remained secret until now“, we read in The Parisian. A first for a man of the media, as he himself indicates in his interview for the Paris daily, in reaction to his decision: “My only consolation is to be the first man to step aside for a woman, whereas until now it was always them who were asked to stay at home.. “Who is this 40-year-old woman, communications director for Jean Castex?
In the columns of Figaro, we learn more about Mayada Boulos. Former Deputy Managing Director of Havas Paris, since July 2020, she has been in charge of communications from Prime Minister Jean Castex to Matignon. She thus obtained the delicate mission of building the image of the head of government, discreet and not very fond of communication. Little by little, the portrait of a humble and healthy man emerges, who knows his files as much as he is close to his family. Her former boss at the Havas agency, Stéphane Fouks, admits to having let go of an expert in communication, number 2 of the company when the government contacts her. There is no lack of praise for his former colleague: “She is both iintelligent, fine, not sectarian and can have an eagle look on things. “Surprisingly he also says”that she could come back when she wanted“.
The young Mayada Boulos has for father an Egyptian journalist and writer militant communist who settled in France with his wife, country in which she was born. Of Coptic origin, she will then go to London with her family and then return to Egypt. A student at the French lycée in Cairo then at the Sorbonne branch, she was nourished by rich political conversations at home. But faced with the Egyptian government, caution is in order. So she left the African continent after the death of her father to continue her studies in Paris.
Mayada Boulos’ CV continues to impress: director of communication for the Halde (the High Authority for the fight against discrimination and for equality, chaired by Louis Schweitzer), then for the Cité des sciences and the Palais de la Découverte , with Claudie Haigneré. The call of politics takes place in 2012 when Marisol Touraine, then socialist deputy, receives it to discuss in the National Assembly. She becomes, after the election of François Hollande as president, advisor, in communication obviously, of the one who is now Minister of Social Affairs and Health. After four rich years, she takes a break and takes time with her two children. According to Le Figaro who does not name him, her ex-husband took part in Emmanuel Macron’s campaign and engages in ministerial offices.
It was Nicolas Revel, Jean Castex’s chief of staff, who contacted her in 2020 and she found friends Clément Leonarduzzi (at the head of communication at the Élysée) and Gabriel Attal (government spokesperson). With them, she works relentlessly, an involvement that pays off. Accomplice with the Prime Minister, she is “very cash“Says a witness. They share a sense of humor and on her Twitter account, she expertly distils it, without overdoing it.