Marie-Françoise Bechtel (born 19 March 1946 in Coarraze) is a senior French civil servant and politician.

Appointed Councillor of State in 1980, she directed the National School of Administration from 2000 to 2002.

Daughter of Gaston Cassiau (1911-1988), a civil servant in public works, and Marie-Christine Sahorès (1907-1999).

[1] A teacher and school principal,[2] Bechtel is from Oloron-Sainte-Marie, where she passed her baccalaureate in 1963.

[4] After studying philosophy at the University of Paris-Sorbonne - where she became involved in May 68,[2] she obtained l Agrégation in 1972[2] and, "follower of the Hegelian dialectic",[5] taught this discipline at the high schools of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Libourne and Chartres for five years.