Laurent Stefanini

Laurent Stefanini (born August 15, 1960) is a French diplomat who has served as Ambassador of France to Monaco.

Biography

Early life The son of a lawyer working in the chemical industry and housewife from Aubusson, Stefanini grew up in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

He studied at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris and the Institute of American Studies in New York, and later graduated from the National School of Administration in France in 1985.

Career 1992 to 1996: He was the assistant director of Economic and Financial Affairs of Quai d'Orsay on questions of the environment, transportation, telecommunication, and energy.

1996 to 2001: He served as Deputy Chief of Protocol.

2001 to 2005: He was the Counselor Minister at the French Embassy to the Holy See, and on his departure was made Commander with a plaque of the Order of Saint George the Great by Pope John Paul II.

March 2005 to October 2006: Stefanini was the counsellor for religious affairs to the minister of foreign affairs.

Fall 2015: In October, Stefanini was refused his appointment to the French Embassy in the Vatican. Some suggest this is due to the French government's failure to comply with the correct procedures; others claim he was denied the post because of his sexual orientation. Instead, he continued his role as the Chief of Protocol and preparing the Courget COP 21 (climate change) from November–December 2015.

April 2016: He took up his duties as a permanent delegate of France to UNESCO, replacing Philipe Lalliot.

October 2016: He voted that France abstain from the controversial decision around holy places in Jerusalem.

August 6, 2019: He was appointed Ambassador of France to Monaco.

Works In October 2016, Laurent Stefanini published a book to tell 500 years of French history through great meals, titled At the table with diplomats.

Distinctions French

Officer of the National Order of Merit Commander of the Academic Palms Commandeur and member of the Council of the Order of Arts and Letters Agricultural Merit Officer Maritime Merit Officer National Defense Medal

Foreign Laurent Stéfanini holds numerous foreign orders:

Commander with the Plaque of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great (February 11, 2005 by Pope John Paul II) Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2012) Commander of the Polish Renaissance Order (March 2013) ) Officer of the Order of Grimaldi (November 22, 2013) Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy (2013) Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (2014)