Citizen and Republican Movement
Encyclopedia
The Citizen and Republican Movement (Mouvement républicain et citoyen) is a political party
in France
. The party replaced, in 2002, the Citizens' Movement founded by Jean-Pierre Chevènement
, who left the Socialist Party
(PS) in 1993 due to his opposition to the Persian Gulf War
and to the Maastricht Treaty
. It is an euro-sceptic
party with leftist aspirations.
Chevènement led the list l'autre politique (the Other policy) for 1994 European Parliament election. It included members of left-wing opposition (socialist and communist candidates) to Maastricht treaty
, feminists, radicals and Gaullists.
The MDC supported the Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin
for the 1995 presidential election
, then integrated the Gauche plurielle
coalition. From 1997 to 2000, it was represented in the government by Chevènement as Interior Minister. In order to prepare the 2002 presidential election
, Chevènement created the Pôle républicain, which included a wide range of politicians: radicals, Gaullists, souverainists
, socialists. He won over 5% and is sometimes blamed for Jospin's elimination. Its lack of success in the legislative election
(losing all 7 MDC deputies elected in 1997) prompted Chevènement to ditch the name and rename his party Citizen and Republican Movement. Chevènement himself was defeated in his stronghold in Territoire-de-Belfort.
The foundation of the MRC meant a realignment to the left. Indeed, the Pôle républicain was supposed to gather "the Republicans of the left and the right".
Chevènement and the MRC supported the Socialist Ségolène Royal's candidacy in the 2007 presidential election
, to prevent a new April 21, 2002 shock. The MRC fielded candidates in the French legislative election, 2007
, including Chevènement in Territoire-de-Belfort, seat he had lost in 2002 to the Union for a Popular Movement
(UMP). He himself failed to win back his seat, but a former Gaullist of the left, Christian Hutin
was elected in the Nord département.
The party has one Senator, Jean-Pierre Chevènement
, who sits in the European Democratic and Social Rally
(RDSE) group, which is ironically the most Europhile
group. It also has 19 regional councillors and 8 general councillors.
In the 2009 European Parliament election
, the party will not run or support any list. Negotiations with the PS and the new Left Front
failed.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The party replaced, in 2002, the Citizens' Movement founded by Jean-Pierre Chevènement
Jean-Pierre Chevènement
Jean-Pierre Chevènement is a French politician. He was Minister of Defense from 1988 to 1991 and Minister of the Interior from 1997 to 2000. He was a presidential candidate in 2002 and since 2008 has been a member of the Senate....
, who left the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
(PS) in 1993 due to his opposition to the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and to the Maastricht Treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
. It is an euro-sceptic
Euroscepticism
Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state...
party with leftist aspirations.
Chevènement led the list l'autre politique (the Other policy) for 1994 European Parliament election. It included members of left-wing opposition (socialist and communist candidates) to Maastricht treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
, feminists, radicals and Gaullists.
The MDC supported the Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin
Lionel Jospin
Lionel Jospin is a French politician, who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002.Jospin was the Socialist Party candidate for President of France in the elections of 1995 and 2002. He was narrowly defeated in the final runoff election by Jacques Chirac in 1995...
for the 1995 presidential election
French presidential election, 1995
Presidential elections took place in France on 23 April and 7 May 1995, to elect the fifth president of the Fifth Republic.The incumbent Socialist president, François Mitterrand, did not stand for a third term. He was 78, had cancer, and his party had lost the previous legislative election in a...
, then integrated the Gauche plurielle
Gauche plurielle
The Gauche Plurielle was a left-wing coalition in France, composed of the Socialist Party , the French Communist Party , the Greens, the Left Radical Party , and the Citizens' Movement...
coalition. From 1997 to 2000, it was represented in the government by Chevènement as Interior Minister. In order to prepare the 2002 presidential election
French presidential election, 2002
The 2002 French presidential election consisted of a first round election on 21 April 2002, and a runoff election between the top two candidates on 5 May 2002. This presidential contest attracted a greater than usual amount of international attention because of Le Pen's unexpected appearance in...
, Chevènement created the Pôle républicain, which included a wide range of politicians: radicals, Gaullists, souverainists
Souverainism
Souverainism , or sovereigntism is a doctrine which supports acquiring or preserving political independence of a nation or a region...
, socialists. He won over 5% and is sometimes blamed for Jospin's elimination. Its lack of success in the legislative election
French legislative election, 2002
-12th Assembly by Parliamentary Group:...
(losing all 7 MDC deputies elected in 1997) prompted Chevènement to ditch the name and rename his party Citizen and Republican Movement. Chevènement himself was defeated in his stronghold in Territoire-de-Belfort.
The foundation of the MRC meant a realignment to the left. Indeed, the Pôle républicain was supposed to gather "the Republicans of the left and the right".
Chevènement and the MRC supported the Socialist Ségolène Royal's candidacy in the 2007 presidential election
French presidential election, 2007
The 2007 French presidential election, the ninth of the Fifth French Republic was held to elect the successor to Jacques Chirac as president of France for a five-year term.The winner, decided on 5 and 6 May 2007, was Nicolas Sarkozy...
, to prevent a new April 21, 2002 shock. The MRC fielded candidates in the French legislative election, 2007
French legislative election, 2007
The French legislative elections took place on 10 June and 17 June 2007 to elect the 13th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic, a few weeks after the French presidential election run-off on 6 May. 7,639 candidates stood for 577 seats, including France's overseas possessions...
, including Chevènement in Territoire-de-Belfort, seat he had lost in 2002 to the Union for a Popular Movement
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
(UMP). He himself failed to win back his seat, but a former Gaullist of the left, Christian Hutin
Christian Hutin
Christian Hutin is a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the Nord department, and is a member of the Citizen and Republican Movement....
was elected in the Nord département.
The party has one Senator, Jean-Pierre Chevènement
Jean-Pierre Chevènement
Jean-Pierre Chevènement is a French politician. He was Minister of Defense from 1988 to 1991 and Minister of the Interior from 1997 to 2000. He was a presidential candidate in 2002 and since 2008 has been a member of the Senate....
, who sits in the European Democratic and Social Rally
European Democratic and Social Rally
The European Democratic and Social Rally is a social-liberal parliamentary group representing the Radical tradition in the French Senate.-Chamber of Deputies:...
(RDSE) group, which is ironically the most Europhile
Europhile
A europhile is a person who is fond of, admires, or even loves European culture, society, history, food, etc. In politics, it may be used to imply Pro-Europeanism, or support for the European Union, often disapprovingly...
group. It also has 19 regional councillors and 8 general councillors.
In the 2009 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2009 (France)
European elections to elect 72 French Members of the European Parliament were held on Sunday 7 June 2009.Due to the entry of Romania and Bulgaria in the European Union in 2007, the number of seats allocated to France was revised from 78 seats to 72 seats, a loss of 6 seats...
, the party will not run or support any list. Negotiations with the PS and the new Left Front
Left Front (France)
The Left Front is a French electoral coalition for the 2009 European elections composed primarily of the French Communist Party, the Left Party and the Unitarian Left...
failed.