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| president4 = [[Didier Robert]]<br>''Herself''
| term_start4 = 16 December 2015
| term_start5 = 27 March 1992▼
| term_end5 = 1 March 1993▼
| president5 = Camille Sudre▼
| birth_name = Marie-Huguette Antoinette Bello
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|08|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Saint-Pierre, Réunion]],
|
|
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| children = 2
| spouse = Jean-Marie Wisniowycki (divorced)<br>Roland Malet
| alma_mater =
▲| term_start5 = 27 March 1992
▲| term_end5 = 1 March 1993
▲| president5 = Camille Sudre
}}
'''Marie-Huguette Antoinette Bello''' (born 24 August 1950) is a French politician and teacher from [[Réunion]] who has served as [[President of the Regional Council (France)|president]] of the [[Regional Council of Réunion]] since 2021. Bello is the founder of the left-wing [[For Réunion (political party)|For Réunion]] political party, having previously been a member of the [[Communist Party of Réunion]] until the foundation of For Réunion in 2012.
After working as a substitute teacher and preschool principal in Réunion, Bello entered politics in 1983, joining the municipal government of [[Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]], and later the municipal government of [[La Possession]] in 1989. In 1988, Bello was elected to the [[Departmental Council of Réunion]] in the [[1988 French cantonal elections|1988 election]], before returning to the Saint-Pierre municipal government in 1995. Bello entered national politics after being elected to the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]] for [[Réunion's 2nd constituency]] in the [[1997 French legislative election|1997 legislative election]]. Bello was reelected in the [[2002 French legislative election|2002]], [[2007 French legislative election|2007]], [[2012 French legislative election|2012]], and [[2017 French legislative election|2017 elections]], until resigning her seat in 2020 due to laws regarding [[Dual_mandate#France|dual mandates]]. Bello was first elected mayor of [[Saint-Paul, Réunion|Saint-Paul]] in the [[2008 French municipal elections|2008 municipal elections]], and served intermittently as mayor between 2008 and 2021.
== Political career ==▼
Bello was chosen to lead the left-wing electoral alliance in Réunion into the [[2015 French regional elections|2015 regional election]], but was defeated by incumbent [[Didier Robert]]. She led the alliance once again in the [[2021 French regional elections|2021 regional election]], and this time was victorious, becoming the president of the Regional Council of Réunion.
Following the [[2024 French legislative election|2024 legislative election]], several leaders of the left-wing [[New Popular Front]] coalition proposed Bello as the coalition's candidate for [[prime minister of France]].
==Early life and education==
Bello was born on 24 August 1950 in [[Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]], the third most-populous city of the French [[overseas regions of France|overseas region]] of [[Réunion]].<ref name="Biography"/> Her parents Husto and Céline Bello had six children, of which she was their only daughter.<ref name="Biography"/> Her father worked on a plantation, while her mother was a homemaker. The family resided in the Ravine des Cabris neighborhood of Saint-Pierre. Bello was raised in a practicing [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] family, and continues to attend weekly mass regularly.<ref name="Biography"/><ref name=":0"/>
Bello was educated at Lycée Roland Garros in [[Le Tampon]], and initially aspired to become a lawyer before pursuing a career in education.<ref name="Biography"/> After turning 18, Bello became a substitute teacher to support her family financially, and later worked as a preschool principal in [[Saint-Leu, Réunion|Saint-Leu]], [[Saint-Louis, Réunion|Saint-Louis]], and [[Le Port, Réunion|Le Port]] in the 1980s.<ref name="Biography">{{cite web|title=Fiche|work=Réunionnais du Monde|date=1 January 2014|url=https://www.reunionnaisdumonde.com/magazine/1001-celebrites/bello-huguette/}}</ref> She became political after joining the Union of Women of La Réunion in 1978, of which she was elected president.<ref name="Biography"/> She later also joined the Front de la Jeunesse autonomiste de La Réunion and the [[Communist Party of Réunion]].<ref name="Biography"/> In 1981, she attended the [[Women's International Democratic Federation]] in Czechoslovakia, where she met the [[First Lady of Chile]] [[Hortensia Bussi]], the first female astronaut [[Valentina Tereshkova]], and the South African activist [[Dulcie September]], which influenced her to pursue politics on her own.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |language=fr |first=Laurent |last=Decloitre |title=Huguette Bello, Réunion de la gauche |url=https://www.liberation.fr/portraits/huguette-bello-reunion-de-la-gauche-20210701_RLOFFJ2QHNCFJA7PFTN2EQVEYQ/ |work=[[Libération]] |date=7 February 2021}}</ref>
Bello began her career in politics in 1983 with the [[Communist Party of Réunion]], after becoming a deputy mayor of [[Saint-Pierre, Réunion|Saint-Pierre]]. She remained in the position until 1989, when she became a deputy mayor of [[La Possession]]. She was later elected to the [[Departmental Council of Réunion]] in the [[1988 French cantonal elections|1988 election]], and served until returning to the municipal council of Saint-Pierre following the [[1995 French municipal elections|1995 municipal elections]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Figure de la politique réunionnaise, Huguette Bello est la nouvelle présidente de la Région|date=28 June 2021|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/figure-de-la-politique-reunionnaise-huguette-bello-remporte-les-elections-regionales-portrait-1046101.html|work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]]}}</ref>
In 1997, Bello was selected to stand as a candidate for the Communist Party in the [[1997 French legislative election|1997 legislative election]], standing in [[Réunion's 2nd constituency]]. She ultimately was elected to the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]], making history as the first woman to be elected to French parliament from Réunion.<ref name=":0" /> She was reelected in the [[2002 French legislative election|2002]] and [[2007 French legislative election|2007 legislative elections]], defeating Alain Bénard of the center-right [[Union for a Popular Movement]] (UMP) both times.
After taking her seat in parliament, Bello joined the left-wing Radical, Citizen, and Green parliamentary group, before sitting as an [[Non-Attached Members (France)|non-attached member]] in her second term. In 2007, Bello joined the [[Democratic and Republican Left group]]. As a member of parliament, Bello focused on issues related to education and [[professional development]], and launched plans to develop a maritime ''[[lycée professionnel]]'' in Réunion.<ref>{{cite web|first=Valeska|last=Grondin|url=https://www.clicanoo.re/Politique/Article/2017/11/22/Huguette-Bello-espere-la-construction-dun-lycee-aux-metiers-de-la-mer|title=Huguette Bello espère la construction d'un lycée aux métiers de la mer|website=clicanoo.re|date=22 November 2017|language=French}}</ref>
In the [[2012 French presidential election|2012 presidential election]], Bello endorsed [[François Hollande]] of the [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Bernard|last=Grollier|url=https://www.franceinter.fr/politique/a-la-reunion-hollande-attaque-le-bilan-de-sarkozy-en-outre-mer|title=À La Réunion, Hollande attaque le bilan de Sarkozy en outre-mer|work=[[France Inter]]|date=31 March 2012|language=French}}</ref> Ahead of the [[2012 French legislative election|2012 legislative election]], Bello was asked by the Communist Party to abandon her constituency and instead stand for election in [[Réunion's 7th constituency]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/politique/h-bello-lance-le-mouvement-pour-la-reunion|title=H. Bello lance le Mouvement pour La Réunion|work=[[Antenne Réunion]]|date=13 May 2012|language=French}}</ref> She rejected the party's request and was subsequently expelled from the party. As a result, she founded the [[For Réunion (political party)|For Réunion]] political party and was reelected in the 2nd constituency, defeating the Communist Party candidate in the first round with 67% of the vote, avoiding a runoff.<ref name=":1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipreunion.com/actualites-reunion/reportage/2012/02/21/politique-legislatives,huguette-bello-exclue-du-pcr,14540.html|title=Politique - Législatives : Huguette Bello exclue du PCR|date=21 February 2012|website=ipreunion.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Samuel|last=Irlepenne|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/2012/06/10/legislatives-huguette-bello-elue-des-le-1er-tour-1932.html|title=Législatives : Huguette Bello élue dès le 1er tour|date=10 June 2012|work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]]}}</ref> She later joined the [[Left Front (France)|Left Front]] political alliance.<ref>{{cite web|first=Patrick|last=Roger|title=Le Front de gauche réussit à constituer un groupe à l'Assemblée|date=25 June 2012|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2012/06/25/le-front-de-gauche-reussit-a-constituer-un-groupe-a-l-assemblee_1724351_823448.html|work=[[Le Monde]]|language=French}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Romain|last=Latournerie|title=Huguette Bello siégera avec le Front de gauche|website=clicanoo.re|date=21 June 2012|url=https://www.clicanoo.re/Politique/Article/2012/06/21/Huguette-Bello-siegera-avec-le-Front-de-gauche_212361}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ludovic|last=Grondin|title=FDG974 : "Le PCR a méprisé ses partenaires et ses camarades comme Huguette Bello"|website=zinfos974.com|url=http://www.zinfos974.com/FDG974-Le-PCR-a-meprise-ses-partenaires-et-ses-camarades-comme-Huguette-Bello_a42925.html}}.</ref> In 2013, as a member of parliament, Bello abstained from the parliamentary vote on legalizing [[Same-sex marriage in France|same-sex marriage]]; however, she later celebrated the first same-sex marriage performed in Réunion later that year, in her capacity as mayor of [[Saint-Paul, Réunion|Saint-Paul]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Laure|last=Equy|language=French|title=Les députés d'outre-mer boudent le mariage pour tous |url=https://www.liberation.fr/france/2013/01/31/les-deputes-d-outre-mer-boudent-le-mariage-pour-tous_878268/ |work=[[Libération]] |date=31 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=French |title=Mariage pour tous: à droite comme à gauche, il y aura quelques députés rebelles |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/diaporama/diapo-photo/actualite/politique/mariage-pour-tous-a-droite-comme-a-gauche-il-y-aura-quelques-deputes-rebelles_1219148.html |work=[[L'Express]] |date=12 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Premier mariage gay de l’île célébré ce jour |url=https://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/societe/premier-mariage-gay-de-l-ile-celebre-ce-jour |website=Linfo.re}}</ref> In 2016, Bello was one of 56 members of parliament who signed the leftist [[motion of no confidence]] against the [[El Khomri law]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/economie/emploi/droit-du-travail/loi-travail/loi-travail-qui-sont-les-signataires-de-la-motion-de-censure-inaboutie-4350441|title=Loi Travail. Qui sont les signataires de la motion de censure inaboutie|work=[[Ouest-France]]|date=6 July 2016}}</ref>
Bello endorsed [[Jean-Luc Mélenchon]] in the [[2017 French presidential election|2017 presidential election]], and was reelected to the National Assembly in the [[2017 French legislative election|2017 legislative election]] with the support of the Communist Party, [[Rézistans Égalité 974]], and [[La France Insoumise]] (LFI).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://outremers360.com/politique/parrainages-presidentielle-2017-tous-les-parrainages-des-elus-ultramarins/|title=Parrainages – Présidentielle 2017: Tous les parrainages des élus ultramarins|website=outremers360.com|date=18 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Baradi|last=Siva|title=Législatives: Huguette Bello est candidate à sa propre succession|work=[[Antenne Réunion]]|date=29 March 2017|url=http://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/politique/714967-legislatives-huguette-bello-est-candidate-a-sa-propre-succession}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2e circonscription : face à Huguette Bello, le PCR ne "présente pas de candidat"|website=mayotte.orange.fr|date=18 May 2017|url=http://mayotte.orange.fr/actu/reunion/2e-circonscription-face-a-huguette-bello-le-pcr-ne-presente-pas-de-candidat.html}}</ref> She received 57.1% of the vote in the first round, but was not permitted to be elected outright due to the low voter participation rate, and was later elected in the runoff with 73.6% of the vote.<ref name=":2017">{{cite web|language=French|publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (France)|Ministry of the Interior]]|title=Résultats des élections législatives 2017|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Legislatives/elecresult__legislatives-2017/(path)/legislatives-2017/974/97402.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Lucie|last=Touzé|title=2e circonscription : Huguette Bello réélue députée pour la 5e fois|work=[[Antenne Réunion]]|date=18 June 2017|url=http://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/politique/720113-le-match-dans-la-2e-circonscription-a-la-reunion}}</ref> In the aftermath of the election, following the general policy proposal of [[prime minister of France|prime minister]] [[Édouard Philippe]] and [[Second Philippe government|his government]], Bello voted against confidence in the government.<ref>{{cite web|first=David |last=Ponchelet|url=http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/outre-mer-votre-depute-t-il-vote-confiance-au-gouvernement-edouard-philippe-491267.html|title=Outre-mer : votre député a-t-il voté la confiance au gouvernement d'Edouard Philippe ?|work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]]|date=4 July 2017}}</ref> The following year, she joined other left-wing opposition groups in supporting a motion of no confidence in the aftermath of the [[Benalla affair]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zinfos974.com/Affaire-Benalla-Huguette-Bello-votera-la-motion-de-censure_a130098.html|title=Affaire Benalla: Huguette Bello votera la motion de censure|website=zinfos974.com|date=31 July 2018}}</ref>
In 2020, Bello resigned her seat in the National Assembly following her election as mayor of Saint-Paul, due to new legislation regarding the accumulation of [[Dual_mandate#France|dual mandates]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Municipales 2020 : qui remplacera Ericka Bareigts et Huguette Bello à l'Assemblée nationale ?|date=29 June 2020|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/municipales-2020-qui-remplacera-ericka-bareigts-huguette-bello-assemblee-nationale-848608.html|work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]]}}</ref> Following her resignation, she was replaced by her deputy [[Olivier Hoarau]], who soon afterwards also resigned in order to maintain his municipal offices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Port : Olivier Hoarau réélu par le conseil municipal |url=https://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/politique/le-port-olivier-hoarau-reelu-par-le-conseil-municipal |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Linfo.re}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=zinfos974 |date=2020-07-09 |title=Pierrot Dupuy - Olivier Hoarau démissionne de son poste de maire du Port, nous vous expliquons pourquoi |url=https://zinfos974.com/pierrot-dupuy-olivier-hoarau-demissionne-de-son-poste-de-maire-du-port-nous-vous-expliquons-pourqu/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Zinfos974 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> A by-election was then organized to elect a replacement, won by [[Karine Lebon]], supported by For Réunion, the Communist Party, the Socialist Party, and LFI.<ref>{{Citation |title=Composition de l'assemblée |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000042097567 |access-date=2023-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Actrice, militante féministe, et maintenant députée : Qui est Karine Lebon ?|url=https://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/politique/actrice-militante-feministe-et-maintenant-deputee-qui-est-karine-lebon|access-date=2021-12-11|website=Linfo.re}}</ref>
===Mayor of Saint-Paul===
[[File:Huguette Bello.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Bello in 2011]]
During the [[2008 French municipal elections|2008 municipal election]], Bello led a left-wing list in [[Saint-Paul, Réunion|Saint-Paul]], which went on to win the election after receiving 50.2% of the vote in the second round runoff, defeating outgoing mayor Alain Bénard.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.antennereunion.fr/Commune-de-Saint-Paul.html |title=Antenne Réunion: municipal election results |access-date=2008-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415032228/http://www.antennereunion.fr/Commune-de-Saint-Paul.html |archive-date=2008-04-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following the election, Bello was inaugurated as mayor of Saint-Paul, the second most-populous city in Réunion. Upon her election, Bello became the second woman in Réunion to ever be elected as a mayor, following [[Marie-Thérèse de Chateauvieux]] of [[Saint-Leu, Réunion|Saint-Leu]], and one of the few women in France to be elected as mayor of a city with over 100,000 residents. Bénard, having been beaten by just 138 votes, alleged that Bello's list had illegally distributed leaflets to voters the day before the election, in addition to alleging "maneuvers" on the voting lists and "pressuring" at polling places. Bénard appealed the election results at the administrative court of [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]], which decided to invalidate the results. Bello appealed the court's decision before the [[Conseil d'État]], but her appeal was rejected in August 2009, resulting in the organization of new elections and her removal from the office of mayor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saint-Paul - Municipales partielles : Bello - Bénard au second tour|website=ipreunion.com|date=27 September 2009|url=https://www.ipreunion.com/evenements/reportage/2009/09/27/saint-paul-municipales-partielles,bello-benard-au-second-tour,6075.html}}</ref> New municipal elections were held in the city in October 2009, where Bello once again defeated Bénard and was able to become reinaugurated as mayor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maire de Saint-Paul : Huguette Bello élue maire|date=9 October 2009|url=http://www.ipreunion.com/evenements/reportage/2009/10/09/maire-de-saint-paul,huguette-bello-elue-maire,6177.html|website=ipreunion.com}}</ref>
As mayor, was forced to respond to numerous incidents of [[shark attack]]s on Saint-Paul beaches, particularly following the death of a man following a shark attack in September 2011. The victim's family criticized Bello for her response to the attack, which led to widespread discussion and controversy regarding discrimination against [[Zoreilles]] in Réunion.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alexandra|last=Chatel|url=https://www.causeur.fr/requin-reunion-surf-creoles-zoreilles-153789|title=À La Réunion, le requin réactive le clivage créoles/zoreilles|website=causeur.fr|date=21 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Nicolas|last=Dufour|url=https://www.letemps.ch/monde/attaques-requins-debats-houleux-reunion|title=Attaques de requins et débats houleux à la Réunion|work=[[Le Temps]]|date=22 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Romain|last=Latournerie|url=https://www.clicanoo.re/Societe/Article/2013/07/29/La-dimension-ethnique-du-conflit_255205|title=La dimension ethnique du conflit|website=clicanoo.re|date=30 July 2013}}</ref> Bello later lost reelection as mayor in the [[2014 French municipal elections|2014 municipal election]], being defeated by the right-wing list of Joseph Sinimalé.<ref name=":2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Municipales/elecresult__MN2014/(path)/MN2014//974/974415.html|title=Résultats des élections municipales et communautaires 2014 : Saint-Paul|publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (France)|Ministry of the Interior]]}}</ref>
In July 2019, Bello announced that she would again be running in the [[2020 French municipal elections|2020 municipal election]] in Saint-Paul, and was supported by a coalition of the left-wing, including the Communist Party, Socialist Party, [[The Ecologists (political party)|The Ecologists]], LFI, and the [[Left Party (France)|Left Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zinfos974.com/Municipales-2020-Huguette-Bello-officialise-sa-candidature-a-St-Paul_a142890.html|title=Municipales 2020 : Huguette Bello officialise sa candidature à St-Paul|website=zinfos974.com|date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipreunion.com/actualites-reunion/reportage/2019/07/27/les-annonces-de-candidatures-commencent-municipales-2020-huguette-bello-se-presente-pour-la-mairie-de-saint-paul,105685.html|title=Municipales 2020 : Huguette Bello se présente pour la mairie de Saint-Paul|website=ipreunion.com|date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Saint-Paul : Huguette Bello réunit toutes les forces de gauche autour d'elle|date=17 February 2020|url=https://www.clicanoo.re/Municipales-2020/Politique/Article/2020/02/17/Saint-Paul-Huguette-Bello-reunit-toutes-les-forces-de|website=Clicanoo.re}}</ref> She went on to easily win the first round of voting with 36.6% of the vote, ahead of incumbent mayor Sinimalé of [[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]] with 19.9% and former mayor Bénard with 14.6%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/saint-paul/resultats-du-1er-tour-municipales-2020-saint-paul-810446.html|title=Municipales à Saint-Paul : Huguette Bello, Joseph Sinimalé et Alain Bénard au second tour|work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]]|date=15 March 2020}}</ref> In the second round runoff, Bello was once again elected mayor after securing 61.8% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=Municipales à Saint-Paul : Huguette Bello à nouveau maire [RESULTATS]|date=28 June 2020|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/saint-paul/municipales-resultats-du-second-tour-elections-saint-paul-846736.html|work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Retour triomphal d’Huguette Bello à la mairie de Saint-Paul|date=4 July 2020|url=https://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/politique/retour-triomphal-d-huguette-bello-a-la-mairie-de-saint-paul|website=linfo.re}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=VIDEO – Saint-Paul : Huguette Bello à nouveau dans le fauteuil de maire|date=4 July 2020|url=https://www.clicanoo.re/Municipales-2020/Politique/Article/2020/07/04/VIDEO-Saint-Paul-Huguette-Bello-nouveau-dans-le|website=Clicanoo.re}}</ref> Upon taking office as mayor for a second term, Bello supported a reduction in the salaries of municipal councillors, which the previous administration had increased.<ref name="BA">{{cite web|title=St-Paul : Le budget 2020 voté sous la contrainte du déficit hérité|date=31 July 2020|url=https://www.zinfos974.com/St-Paul-Le-budget-2020-vote-sous-la-contrainte-du-deficit-herite_a158091.html|website=zinfos974.com}}</ref> The following year, she introduced free [[school meal]]s for students in the city, the creation of a police station in the rural inland area of the city, the revision of the city's urban planning scheme and deployment of video surveillance by 2026, and the implementation of a policy which would recruit public sector employees with disabilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saint-Paul détaille d'ambitieuses Orientations Budgétaires|date=25 November 2020|url=https://www.zinfos974.com/Saint-Paul-detaille-d-ambitieuses-Orientations-Budgetaires_a163209.html|website=zinfos974.com}}</ref>
Bello resigned as mayor of Saint-Paul in 2021, following her election as president of the [[Regional Council of Réunion]], and she was replaced by her first deputy mayor Emmanuel Séraphin.<ref>{{cite web|first=Samuel|last=Irlepenne|title=Emmanuel Séraphin devient maire de Saint-Paul|date=8 July 2021|url=https://www.zinfos974.com/Emmanuel-Seraphin-devient-maire-de-Saint-Paul_a171119.html|website=zinfos974.com}}</ref>
===President of the Regional Council of Réunion===
[[File:Elisa Ferreira & Huguette Bello (2023).jpg|thumb|right|280px|Bello (right) with [[Elisa Ferreira]] in 2023]]
In 2015, Bello was chosen to lead the left-wing alliance in Réunion into the [[2015 French regional elections|2015 regional election]], making her the left's candidate for president of the [[Regional Council of Réunion]]. Her list went on to place second in the first round with 23.8% of the vote, behind incumbent [[Didier Robert]] of [[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]] with 40.4% of the vote. In the second round runoff, Bello negotiated an alliance between her list and [[Thierry Robert]] of the centrist [[Democratic Movement (France)|Democratic Movement]] and the center-left [[Patrick Lebreton]], but she placed second with 47.3% of the vote, losing to Robert.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://outremers360.com/politique/elections-regionales-2015-a-la-reunion-huguette-bello-et-thierry-robert-font-front-commun/|title=Elections Régionales 2015 : À la Réunion, Huguette Bello et Thierry Robert font front commun|date=8 December 2015|website=outremers360.com}}</ref><ref name=":2015">{{cite web|publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (France)|Ministry of the Interior]]|url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Regionales/elecresult__regionales-2015/(path)/regionales-2015/04/index.html|title=Résultats des élections régionales 2015 : La Réunion}}</ref> Following the conclusion of the election, Bello took her seat in the Regional Council and began to focus on regional politics, resigning her seat in the [[Saint-Paul, Réunion|Saint-Paul]] municipal council, where she had been in the opposition since her defeat in the 2014 municipal election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/elections/regionales/didier-robert-lr-est-reelu-president-de-region-la-reunion-3926412|title=Régionales. Didier Robert (LR) est réélu président à la Réunion|work=[[Ouest-France]]|date=18 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Huguette Bello démissionne du conseil municipal de St-Paul|date=15 December 2015|url=https://www.zinfos974.com/Huguette-Bello-demissionne-du-conseil-municipal-de-St-Paul_a95404.html|website=zinfos974.com}}</ref>
Bello once again led the left-wing in the [[2021 French regional elections|2021 regional election]] as their presidential candidate in Réunion, campaigning on a platform of fighting against inequalities and free access to the ''car jaune'' bus system in Réunion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Huguette Bello officialise sa candidature aux régionales |url=https://www.ipreunion.com/actualites-reunion/reportage/2021/04/07/bello-candidate,133428.html |website=ipreunion.com |date=7 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Huguette Bello officialise sa candidature aux élections régionales prévues en juin prochain|date=7 April 2021|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/huguette-bello-officialise-sa-candidature-aux-elections-regionales-prevues-en-juin-prochain-978043.html|work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Régionales : Huguette Bello dévoile son programme et ses ambitions pour La Réunion|date=24 May 2021|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/regionales-huguette-bello-devoile-son-programme-et-ses-ambitions-pour-la-reunion-1016707.html|work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]]}}</ref> In the first round, Bello once again placed second behind incumbent Robert, receiving 20.7% of the vote to Robert's 31.1%, and both ahead of [[Ericka Bareigts]] of the Socialist Party with 18.5%.<ref name="Résultats 2021">{{cite web|title=Elections régionales 2021 : La Réunion|url=https://elections.interieur.gouv.fr/regionales-2021/04/index.html|publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (France)|Ministry of the Interior]]}}</ref> In the second round runoff, Bello negotiated a united left electoral alliance with Bareigts, and went on to defeat Robert after receiving 51.9% of the final vote. Her election resulted in Réunion becoming the only region to flip from right-wing to left-wing in the 2021 regional elections.<ref>{{cite web|title=Régionales : La Réunion passe à gauche, seule région à changer de camp|date=27 June 2021|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/elections-regionales-2021/20210627.OBS45859/regionales-la-reunion-passe-a-gauche-seule-region-a-changer-de-camp.html|website=nouvelobs.com}}</ref>
Upon taking office as president of the regional council, Bello became the second woman to serve in the position, following [[Margie Sudre]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Martine|last=Salama-Hoareau|title=Conseil Régional: Huguette Bello élue présidente|date=2 July 2021|url=https://www.lequotidien.re/actualites/region/conseil-regional-huguette-bello-elue-presidente/|website=lequotidien.re}}</ref> As president, she also took office as vice-president of the Régions de France association, an association of the regional heads of government in France.<ref>{{cite web|title=Région : Association Régions de France : Huguette Bello nommée vice-présidente|date=9 July 2021|url=https://www.ipreunion.com/actualites-reunion/reportage/2021/07/09/region-association-de-region-de-france-huguette-bello-nommee-vice-presidente,137934.html|website=ipreunion.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Huguette Bello et Ary Chalus désignés vice-présidents de l’Association Régions de France|date=9 July 2021|url=https://outremers360.com/bassin-atlantique-appli/huguette-bello-et-ary-chalus-designes-vice-presidents-de-lassociation-regions-de-france|website=outremers360.com}}</ref> In 2022, she was elected to the [[supervisory board]] of the University Hospital of La Réunion for a five-year term.<ref>{{cite web|title=CHU : Huguette Bello élue à la présidence du Conseil de surveillance|url=https://www.clicanoo.re/article/societe/2021/09/29/chu-huguette-bello-elue-a-la-presidence-du-conseil-de-surveillance|website=clicanoo.re|date=29 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Damien|last=Chaillot|title=La Réunion : Huguette Bello à la tête du Conseil de surveillance du CHU|date=29 September 2021|url=https://outremers360.com/bassin-indien-appli/la-reunion-huguette-bello-a-la-tete-du-conseil-de-surveillance-du-chu|website=outremers360.com}}</ref>
Much like in 2017, Bello endorsed Mélenchon in the [[2022 French presidential election]], and also supported the left-wing [[New Ecological and Social People's Union]] (NUPES) electoral alliance in the [[2022 French legislative election|2022 legislative election]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Matthieu|last=Patou-Parvédy|title=Présidentielle 2022 : Huguette Bello parraine officiellement Jean-Luc Mélenchon|date=23 February 2022|url=https://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/politique/presidentielle-2022-huguette-bello-parraine-officiellement-jean-luc-melenchon|website=linfo.re}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Les élections approchent : Législatives : Huguette Bello plaide pour une union des gauches|date=9 May 2022|url=https://www.ipreunion.com/actualites-reunion/reportage/2022/05/09/bello-legislatives,151667.html|website=ipreunion.com}}</ref> Her party For Réunion aligned itself with LFI, the Socialist Party, and The Ecologists to form the Rassemblement réunionnais, which served as the counterpart to NUPES in Réunion.<ref name=":2022">{{cite web|title=Elections : Législatives : La France insoumise présente les candidats du "rassemblement réunionnais"|date=12 May 2022|url=https://www.ipreunion.com/actualites-reunion/reportage/2022/05/12/elections-legislatives-la-france-insoumise-presente-les-candidats-du-rassemblement-reunionnais,151858.html|website=ipreunion.com}}</ref> In the event of a NUPES victory in the election and a left-wing government coming into power in parliament, Bello was discussed by the media as a potential [[Minister (government)|minister]] in a government led by Mélenchon.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pierrot|last=Dupuy|title=Huguette Bello, Younous Omarjee et Françoise Vergès ministrables, selon un journal|date=26 April 2022|url=https://www.zinfos974.com/Huguette-Bello-Younous-Omarjee-et-Francoise-Verges-ministrables-selon-un-journal_a182035.html|website=zinfos974.com}}</ref> In the [[2024 European Parliament election in France]], Bello was given a symbolic position on the list of LFI, being placed in the unelectable last position, just behind Mélenchon.<ref>{{cite web |language=French |title=Huguette Bello, présidente de la Région Réunion, sera candidate aux élections européennes de 2024 |url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/reunion/huguette-bello-presidente-de-la-region-reunion-sera-candidate-aux-elections-europeennes-1472772.html |work=[[La Première (French TV network)|La 1ère]] |date=16 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=French |title=Mélenchon sera bien candidat aux européennes mais pas pour être élu |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/politique/article/jean-luc-melenchon-candidat-aux-europeennes-sur-la-liste-lfi-mais-ce-n-est-pas-pour-etre-elu_231319.html |work=[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post France]] |date=16 March 2024}}</ref>
Following the victory of the left-wing [[New Popular Front]] (NFP) in the [[2024 French legislative election|2024 legislative election]], Bello has been cited by members of the coalition as a potential future candidate for [[prime minister of France]]. She was proposed as the coalition's candidate for prime minister by [[Fabien Roussel]] of the [[French Communist Party]], which was later supported by LFI and The Ecologists as well, while the Socialist Party has not yet offered an opinion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roussel a proposé au NFP le nom d’Huguette Bello pour Matignon, Mélenchon estime qu’elle est une « solution » |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/elections/legislatives/le-communiste-fabien-roussel-a-propose-au-nfp-le-nom-dhuguette-bello-pour-matignon-12-07-2024-S7ZWNYYUVVHHFFSTHMR6RBSTEY.php |work=[[Le Parisien]] |date=12 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=French |first1=Sacha |last1=Nelken |first2=Noa |last2=Jacquet |title=Qui est Huguette Bello, la communiste qui pourrait être proposée au poste de Premier ministre à gauche ? |url=https://www.liberation.fr/politique/elections/qui-est-huguette-bello-la-communiste-qui-pourrait-etre-proposee-au-poste-de-premier-ministre-a-gauche-20240712_RA5CGHVVL5AJHOXMGNCJI735II/ |work=[[Libération]]}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Bello was first married to Jean-Marie Wisniowycki, from whom she is divorced.<ref name="Biography"/> She later married Roland Malet, a journalist who previously worked for ''[[Les Echos (France)|Les Echos]]'' and [[La Première (French TV network)|RFO Réunion]].<ref name="Biography"/> Bello has two children.<ref name="Biography"/>
==External links==
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