Patrick Kanner (French pronunciation: [patʁik ka.ne]; born 29 April 1957) is a French politician serving as president of the Socialist group and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate since 2018.

[1][2] Kanner previously served as President of the General Council of Nord from 2011 to 2014 and Minister of the City, Youth and Sports from 2014 to 2017.

Kanner is the son of Polish Jews who fled Nazism to France.

He became Mayor Pierre Mauroy's youngest adjoint the same year, a position he kept when Martine Aubry assumed the mayorship in 2001.

Elected to the presidency of the Nord General Council in 2011, Kanner became Minister of the City, Youth and Sports in the Second Valls government, succeeding Najat Vallaud-Belkacem.