Between 2018 and 2020, Castets headed a section at Tracfin within the Ministry of Economics and Finance, the intelligence agency responsible for combating illegal financial circuits, money laundering, and the financing of terrorism.[12] In 2020, Castets joined the administration of mayor of ParisAnne Hidalgo, becoming an economic advisor.[1] In October 2023, she was appointed by Hidalgo to serve as Director of Finance and Purchasing in Hidalgo's office.[13][11][14]
Castets left the Socialist Party in 2011, due to disagreements with the political direction that François Hollande took the party.[13] However, she remained affiliated with the party and participated in the campaign of Anne Hidalgo during the 2022 presidential election, also becoming closer to Clémentine Autain.[5]
In 2021, Castets cofounded the Nos services publicscollective, which seeks to "highlight dysfunctions and make proposals" to improve public services in France.[12] She received public attention in 2022, when she questioned Stanislas Guerini on the television program Ce soir about the unwarranted use of consulting firms.[19]
Prime ministerial nomination
In July 2024, Castets was nominated by the New Popular Front as their candidate for prime minister of France, in the aftermath of the 2024 legislative election in which the NFP won the most seats but not a majority. [20] Following her nomination, Castets said that her political priorities were reversing the pension reform by Emmanuel Macron, a tax reform to make sure that "all pay their fair share", and to improve purchasing power by raising salaries and social benefit payments.[21]
Macron dismissed her nomination, initially saying that he would not make any decisions before the end of the 2024 Summer Olympics and that "the question is not a name", but which governmental majority would be formed in the National Assembly.[22][23] Castets rejected forming a coalition with Macron's Ensemble group due to what she said were profound disagreements, and urged Macron to accept her nomination.[24][25] The president declined to appoint Castets again in late August because other parties said that they would topple a NFP minority government,[26] and in September appointed Michel Barnier of Les Républicains instead.
Personal life
Castets is married to a woman and they have a child.[27] She played tennis for about ten years,[28] and served as ball girl at the French Open at the age of 15.[29]