Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Encyclopedia
Jean-Pierre Raffarin is a French conservative politician and senator
for Vienne
.
Jean-Pierre Raffarin served as the Prime Minister of France
from 6 May 2002 to 31 May 2005, resigning after France's rejection of the referendum
on the European Union draft constitution
. However, after Raffarin resigned, he said that his decision was not based on the outcome of the vote. Opinion polls following his resignation suggested that Raffarin was one of France's least popular prime ministers since the Fifth Republic
was established in 1958. However, according to the book "France: 1815–2003", written by Martin Evans and Emmanuel Godwin, Raffarin was "a remarkably popular prime minister" despite his ability "to state the obvious and to make empty statements".
Raffarin is married to Anne-Marie Perrier (b. 1952 in Chamalières) and has a daughter, Fleur.
as the son of a prominent national figure: his father Jean Raffarin was a vice-minister of Agriculture in the government of Pierre Mendes-France
(1954–1955). He studied law at the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas
and later graduated from ESCP Europe business school. He started his professional career in marketing.
In the 1970s, his first political commitment was in the association of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
's young supporters. Defining himself as a "giscardien", he joined the staff of Lionel Stoléru, Secretary of state for Manual Workers and Immigration, and the Republican Party
, the liberal-conservative component of the centre-right confederation the Union for French Democracy
(UDF).
region. With the support of René Monory
, the local political leader, he took the chair of the regional council in 1988.
Seven years later, he was elected senator of Vienne
département.
Governmental functions
Prime Minister : 2002–2005.
Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce and Craft : 1995–1997.
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament
: 1989–1995 (Became minister in 1995). Reelected in 1994.
Senate of France
Senator of Vienne
: Elected in 1995, but he stays minister / 1997–2002 (Became Prime minister in 2002) / Re-elected in 2004, but he stays Prime minister / Since 2005. Elected in 1995, re-elected in 1997, 2004, 2005, 2008.
Regional Council
President of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes
: 1988–2002 (Resignation). Re-elected in 1992, 1998.
Vice-President of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes
: 2002–2004.
Regional councillor of Poitou-Charentes
: 1986–2004. Reelected in 1992, 1998.
Municipal Council
Deputy-mayor of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou
: 1995–2001.
Municipal councillor of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou
: 1995–2001.
Municipal councillor of Poitiers
: 1977–1995. Re-elected in 1983, 1989.
Political functions
Vice-President of the Union for a Popular Movement
: Since 2007.
, while most UDF politicians supported Édouard Balladur
, he chose the winning candidacy of Jacques Chirac
. In return, he was nominated Minister of Small and Medium-sized Companies, Commerce and Craft Industry in Alain Juppé
's cabinet (1995–1997).
At the same time, the pro-Chirac UDF members founded the Popular Party for French Democracy
. Then, he returned in the Republican Party, became Liberal Democracy
(DL) in 1997. He was vice-president of DL until 2002.
, he advocated the union of the right behind the incumbent President Chirac. After his re-election, Chirac wished to give a sign of political renewal. Furthermore, elected in a special second round by a majority of left-wing voters, he searched for a moderate to lead the cabinet and the June 2002 legislative campaign
. Raffarin participated in the formation of the Union for a Popular Movement
(UMP).
His political policies combined authority
and moderate economical liberalism – that is, the support of laissez-faire
economic policies. In 2003 he launched reforms of the public retirement scheme and of decentralisation
, which led to many strikes. During the summer of 2003 the country experienced an unusual heat wave which caused the death of nearly 15,000 people. The perceived late reaction of the government was blamed on his administration. In 2004 he began a reform of the French state-run health-care system.
Raffarin's governments were known for their internal quarrels with various ministers taking opposite positions in public. The alleged lack of authority of the Prime Minister was mocked by the media.
On 28 March 2004 the ruling UMP
party suffered an important defeat during the regional elections
, with all but one région out of 22 of mainland France going to the opposition (PS, PCF
, Les Verts
). This was generally interpreted, including by Raffarin himself in his post-election speech, as "a sign of distrust against the government from the electorate". On 30 March 2004 Jean-Pierre Raffarin tendered the resignation of his government to president Jacques Chirac, who immediately re-appointed him prime minister, with the delegation to form a new government. This major cabinet reshuffle removed some of its most controversial ministers like Luc Ferry
(education) or Jean-François Mattei
(health).
.
On 18 September 2005, he was elected Senator in the Vienne département. Speculation were that he could eventually try to become President of the Senate or President of the Union for a Popular Movement
if Nicolas Sarkozy won the 2007 presidential election
. He became one of the Vice Presidents of the UMP in 2007. In September 2008, he sought the Senate UMP fraction’s investiture to become President of the Senate, but was defeated by Gérard Larcher
.
Raffarin is Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) and Grand-Croix de l'ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit).
erupted with criticism of France when a New York Post
opinion piece claimed that Le Figaro
reported that Raffarin said "the Iraqi insurgents are our best allies". There is no trace of this quote in Le Figaro, and the opinion piece is no longer available from the NYP website.
During a state visit to China on 21 April 2005 he avoided opposing the new "anti-secession" law on Taiwan
, stating that "The anti-secession law is completely compatible with the position of France" and "The position of France has always been to 'one China' and we will remain attached to this position". On the embargo on weapons, he stated that "France continues to ask for a lifting of the embargo, and does not see what could lead the European Council to change position on that question". http://sg.news.yahoo.com/050423/1/3s3pn.html http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=9677&t=1&c=1
By convention, foreign affairs are one of the President's—and not the Prime Minister's—sole responsibilities.
scandal forcing Hervé Gaymard
resignation.
25 February 2005 – following a scandal forcing Gaymard's resignation
s, known colloquially and ironically as raffarinades, the best known being La route est droite, mais la pente est forte ("The road is straight, but the slope is steep"). Some consider that the word raffarinade was created in reference to the other French word mazarinade. However, mazarinade refers to the songs that the frondeurs (French revolutionaries during the Régence of Queen Anne – Archduchess of Austria – and chief minister Cardinal de Mazarin, before king Louis XIV's personal reign) sang to mock the unpopular chief minister.
Raffarin also tried his English prior to the referendum on the European draft Constitution but this turned out to be an ill-advised idea, as shown in this famous excerpt http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4118142947508150872&q=raffarin&pl=true from his speech: "Win the yes need the no to win against the no." The referendum itself was enventually nicknamed le Raffarindum by its opponents while Journée de solidarité envers les personnes âgées
(Day of solidarity with the elderly) is sometimes referred to as la Saint-Raffarin by discontented workers (following a decision by Raffarin, French workers are supposed to work on Whit Monday
for free).
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
for Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
.
Jean-Pierre Raffarin served as the Prime Minister of France
Prime Minister of France
The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
from 6 May 2002 to 31 May 2005, resigning after France's rejection of the referendum
French referendum on the European Constitution
The French referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was held on 29 May 2005 to decide whether France should ratify the proposed Constitution of the European Union...
on the European Union draft constitution
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe , , was an unratified international treaty intended to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union...
. However, after Raffarin resigned, he said that his decision was not based on the outcome of the vote. Opinion polls following his resignation suggested that Raffarin was one of France's least popular prime ministers since the Fifth Republic
French Fifth Republic
The Fifth Republic is the fifth and current republican constitution of France, introduced on 4 October 1958. The Fifth Republic emerged from the collapse of the French Fourth Republic, replacing the prior parliamentary government with a semi-presidential system...
was established in 1958. However, according to the book "France: 1815–2003", written by Martin Evans and Emmanuel Godwin, Raffarin was "a remarkably popular prime minister" despite his ability "to state the obvious and to make empty statements".
Raffarin is married to Anne-Marie Perrier (b. 1952 in Chamalières) and has a daughter, Fleur.
Early life
Born 3 August 1948, Raffarin grew up in PoitiersPoitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
as the son of a prominent national figure: his father Jean Raffarin was a vice-minister of Agriculture in the government of Pierre Mendes-France
Pierre Mendès-France
Pierre Mendès France was a French politician. He descended from a Portuguese Jewish family that moved to France in the sixteenth century.-Third Republic and World War II:...
(1954–1955). He studied law at the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas
University of Paris II: Panthéon-Assas
Pantheon-Assas Paris II University , also known as Assas, is a public research university in Paris, France. The 1968 cultural revolution, commonly known as the French May, resulted in the division of the world's second oldest academic institution, the University of Paris, into thirteen autonomous...
and later graduated from ESCP Europe business school. He started his professional career in marketing.
In the 1970s, his first political commitment was in the association of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
's young supporters. Defining himself as a "giscardien", he joined the staff of Lionel Stoléru, Secretary of state for Manual Workers and Immigration, and the Republican Party
Republican Party (France)
The Republican Party was a French right-wing political party founded in 1977. It replaced the National Federation of the Independent Republicans that was founded in 1966. It was created by former President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing...
, the liberal-conservative component of the centre-right confederation the Union for French Democracy
Union for French Democracy
The Union for French Democracy was a French centrist political party. It was founded in 1978 as an electoral alliance to support President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in order to counterbalance the Gaullist preponderance over the right. This name was chosen due to the title of Giscard d'Estaing's...
(UDF).
Political career
In the 1980s, he started a career in local politics in Poitou-CharentesPoitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes is an administrative region in central western France comprising four departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. The regional capital is Poitiers.-Politics:The regional council is composed of 56 members...
region. With the support of René Monory
René Monory
René Monory was a French centre-right politician.-Biography:René Monory was born in Loudun and began his career as the owner of a garage. He was the founder of the Poitiers Futuroscope.Monory first became a Senator in 1968...
, the local political leader, he took the chair of the regional council in 1988.
Seven years later, he was elected senator of Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
département.
Governmental functions
Prime Minister : 2002–2005.
Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce and Craft : 1995–1997.
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
: 1989–1995 (Became minister in 1995). Reelected in 1994.
Senate of France
Senator of Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
: Elected in 1995, but he stays minister / 1997–2002 (Became Prime minister in 2002) / Re-elected in 2004, but he stays Prime minister / Since 2005. Elected in 1995, re-elected in 1997, 2004, 2005, 2008.
Regional Council
President of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes is an administrative region in central western France comprising four departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. The regional capital is Poitiers.-Politics:The regional council is composed of 56 members...
: 1988–2002 (Resignation). Re-elected in 1992, 1998.
Vice-President of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes is an administrative region in central western France comprising four departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. The regional capital is Poitiers.-Politics:The regional council is composed of 56 members...
: 2002–2004.
Regional councillor of Poitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes is an administrative region in central western France comprising four departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. The regional capital is Poitiers.-Politics:The regional council is composed of 56 members...
: 1986–2004. Reelected in 1992, 1998.
Municipal Council
Deputy-mayor of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou
Chasseneuil-du-Poitou
-External links:* *...
: 1995–2001.
Municipal councillor of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou
Chasseneuil-du-Poitou
-External links:* *...
: 1995–2001.
Municipal councillor of Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
: 1977–1995. Re-elected in 1983, 1989.
Political functions
Vice-President of 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...
: Since 2007.
In government
During the 1995 presidential campaignFrench 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...
, while most UDF politicians supported Édouard Balladur
Édouard Balladur
Édouard Balladur is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 29 March 1993 to 10 May 1995.-Biography:Balladur was born in İzmir, Turkey, to an Armenian Catholic family with five children and long-standing ties to France...
, he chose the winning candidacy of Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
. In return, he was nominated Minister of Small and Medium-sized Companies, Commerce and Craft Industry in Alain Juppé
Alain Juppé
Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011...
's cabinet (1995–1997).
At the same time, the pro-Chirac UDF members founded the Popular Party for French Democracy
Popular Party for French Democracy
The Popular Party for French Democracy was a centrist-liberal party in France.It was launched in July 1995, as a successor to the Perspectives and Realities Clubs and as a component of the Union for French Democracy centre-right confederation...
. Then, he returned in the Republican Party, became Liberal Democracy
Liberal Democracy (France)
Liberal Democracy was a French political party that advocated conservative liberalism and liberal conservatism, headed by Alain Madelin. The party replaced in 1997 the Republican Party, which was the classical liberal component of the Union for French Democracy .It became independent in 1998,...
(DL) in 1997. He was vice-president of DL until 2002.
Prime minister
During the 2002 presidential campaignFrench 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...
, he advocated the union of the right behind the incumbent President Chirac. After his re-election, Chirac wished to give a sign of political renewal. Furthermore, elected in a special second round by a majority of left-wing voters, he searched for a moderate to lead the cabinet and the June 2002 legislative campaign
French legislative election, 2002
-12th Assembly by Parliamentary Group:...
. Raffarin participated in the formation of 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).
His political policies combined authority
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
and moderate economical liberalism – that is, the support of laissez-faire
Laissez-faire
In economics, laissez-faire describes an environment in which transactions between private parties are free from state intervention, including restrictive regulations, taxes, tariffs and enforced monopolies....
economic policies. In 2003 he launched reforms of the public retirement scheme and of decentralisation
Décentralisation
Décentralisation is a french word for both a policy concept in French politics from 1968-1990, and a term employed to describe the results of observations of the evolution of spatial economic and institutional organization of France....
, which led to many strikes. During the summer of 2003 the country experienced an unusual heat wave which caused the death of nearly 15,000 people. The perceived late reaction of the government was blamed on his administration. In 2004 he began a reform of the French state-run health-care system.
Raffarin's governments were known for their internal quarrels with various ministers taking opposite positions in public. The alleged lack of authority of the Prime Minister was mocked by the media.
On 28 March 2004 the ruling UMP
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...
party suffered an important defeat during the regional elections
French regional elections, 2004
Regional elections in were held in France on 21 and 28 March 2004. At stake were the presidencies of each of France's 26 regions which, although they do not have legislative powers, manage sizeable budgets...
, with all but one région out of 22 of mainland France going to the opposition (PS, PCF
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
, Les Verts
Les Verts
' is the name of various green political parties in French-speaking countries such as:official name:*Les Verts in France;*Les Verts in Luxembourg ;*Les Verts in Benin;*Les Verts in Mauritius;...
). This was generally interpreted, including by Raffarin himself in his post-election speech, as "a sign of distrust against the government from the electorate". On 30 March 2004 Jean-Pierre Raffarin tendered the resignation of his government to president Jacques Chirac, who immediately re-appointed him prime minister, with the delegation to form a new government. This major cabinet reshuffle removed some of its most controversial ministers like Luc Ferry
Luc Ferry
Luc Ferry is a French philosopher and a notable proponent of Secular Humanism. He is a former member of the Saint-Simon Foundation think-tank....
(education) or Jean-François Mattei
Jean-François Mattei
Jean-François Mattei, born January 14, 1943 in Lyon, France, is a French doctor and politician.- Medical career :Jean-François Mattei is a professor of pediatrics and genetics...
(health).
Resignation
Raffarin's resignation was accepted by President Chirac on 30 May 2005, after the "no" victory at the European Constitution referendum, and he was replaced as Prime Minister by Dominique de VillepinDominique de Villepin
Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007....
.
On 18 September 2005, he was elected Senator in the Vienne département. Speculation were that he could eventually try to become President of the Senate or President of 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...
if Nicolas Sarkozy won 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...
. He became one of the Vice Presidents of the UMP in 2007. In September 2008, he sought the Senate UMP fraction’s investiture to become President of the Senate, but was defeated by Gérard Larcher
Gérard Larcher
Gérard Larcher is a French politician who was President of the Senate of France from 2008 to 2011. A member of the center-right Union for a Popular Movement, he was a Senator for the Yvelines département from 1986 to 2004 and has been again since 2007.Larcher was born in Flers, Orne to a Catholic...
.
Raffarin is Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) and Grand-Croix de l'ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit).
International policies
In September 2004 the US conservative blogosphereBlogosphere
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections. The term implies that blogs exist together as a connected community or as a social network in which everyday authors can publish their opinions...
erupted with criticism of France when a New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
opinion piece claimed that Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
reported that Raffarin said "the Iraqi insurgents are our best allies". There is no trace of this quote in Le Figaro, and the opinion piece is no longer available from the NYP website.
During a state visit to China on 21 April 2005 he avoided opposing the new "anti-secession" law on Taiwan
Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China
The Anti-Secession Law is a law of the People's Republic of China. It was passed by the third conference of the 10th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China . It was ratified on March 14, 2005, and went into effect immediately. Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of...
, stating that "The anti-secession law is completely compatible with the position of France" and "The position of France has always been to 'one China' and we will remain attached to this position". On the embargo on weapons, he stated that "France continues to ask for a lifting of the embargo, and does not see what could lead the European Council to change position on that question". http://sg.news.yahoo.com/050423/1/3s3pn.html http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=9677&t=1&c=1
By convention, foreign affairs are one of the President's—and not the Prime Minister's—sole responsibilities.
First ministry (7 May 2002 – 17 June 2002)
- Jean-Pierre Raffarin – Prime Minister
- Dominique de VillepinDominique de VillepinDominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007....
– Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Francophonie - Michèle Alliot-MarieMichèle Alliot-MarieMichèle Jeanne Honorine Alliot-Marie, born 10 September 1946 and nicknamed MAM, is a French politician of the Union for a Popular Movement . A member of all but one right-wing governments of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, she was the first woman in France to hold the portfolios of Defense , the...
– Minister of Defense and Veterans - Nicolas SarkozyNicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
– Minister of the Interior, Interior Security, and Local Liberties - Francis MerFrancis MerFrancis Mer is a French businessman, industrialist and politician. A former alumnus of the Ecole polytechnique, he was hired in 1970 by the Saint-Gobain group. In 1982, he became chairman of the board of Pont-à-Mousson SA...
– Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industry - François FillonFrançois FillonFrançois Charles Armand Fillon is the Prime Minister of France. He was appointed to that office by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. He served initially until 13 November 2010 when he resigned from being prime minister before a planned cabinet reshuffle.On 14 November 2010, Sarkozy...
– Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, and Solidarity - Dominique PerbenDominique PerbenDominique Perben is a French politician. Born in Lyon, he was French Minister of Transportation from 2005 to 2007. He was previously Minister of Justice , Minister of Civil Service and Administration and Minister of Overseas France .Perben has been a Deputy in the National Assembly for the fifth...
– Minister of Justice - Luc FerryLuc FerryLuc Ferry is a French philosopher and a notable proponent of Secular Humanism. He is a former member of the Saint-Simon Foundation think-tank....
– Minister of National Education, Youth, Higher Education, and Research - Jean-Jacques AillagonJean-Jacques AillagonJean-Jacques Aillagon is a French politician, a close confidant of Jacques Chirac and member of the Union for a Popular Movement political party. From 1972 to 1976 he was a high school teacher in the Corrèze region of France...
– Minister of Culture and Communication - Hervé GaymardHervé GaymardHervé Gaymard is a French politician and a member of UMP conservative party. He served as the country's Minister of Finances from 30 November 2004 until his resignation on 25 February 2005....
– Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs - Roselyne Bachelot – Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development
- Tokia SaïfiTokia SaïfiTokia Afféda Saïfi is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the North-West of France. She is a member of the Radical party and of the Union for a Popular Movement, part of the European People's Party. She is a former member of Ecology Generation.- References :* European...
– Minister Delegate of Sustainable Development - Jean-François LamourJean-François LamourJean-François Lamour is a former French fencer and current French politician and cabinet minister. A top fencer, he was a gold medallist at the 1984 Olympics and 1988 Olympics and a bronze medal winner at the 1992 Olympics in the men's individual sabre. He was also world champion in 1987...
– Minister of Sport - Brigitte Girardin – Minister of Overseas
- Gilles de RobienGilles de RobienCount Gilles de Robien is a French politician. He is the son of count Jean de Robien and of Éliane Le Mesre de Pas. The Robien are a noble family originating from Brittany....
– Minister of Transport, Housing, Tourism, Sea, and Equipment - Jean-François MattéiJean-François MattéiJean-François Mattéi, born 9 March 1941 in Oran, Algeria, is a French philosopher.-External links:...
– Minister of Health, Family, and Handicapped People - Jean-Paul DelevoyeJean-Paul DelevoyeJean-Paul Delevoye is a French politician.-Political career:After having worked in the food industry, he began his political career as a village councilman in 1974...
– Minister of Civil Service, Reform of the State, and Regional Planning - Renaud Donnedieu de VabresRenaud Donnedieu de VabresRenaud Donnedieu de Vabres , often known as RDDV, is a French politician, France's Minister of Culture from 2004 to 2007...
– Minister of European affairs
Second ministry (17 June 2002 – 31 March 2004)
- Jean-Pierre Raffarin – Prime Minister
- Dominique de VillepinDominique de VillepinDominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007....
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Michèle Alliot-MarieMichèle Alliot-MarieMichèle Jeanne Honorine Alliot-Marie, born 10 September 1946 and nicknamed MAM, is a French politician of the Union for a Popular Movement . A member of all but one right-wing governments of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, she was the first woman in France to hold the portfolios of Defense , the...
– Minister of Defense - Nicolas SarkozyNicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
– Minister of the Interior, Interior Security, and Local Liberties - Francis MerFrancis MerFrancis Mer is a French businessman, industrialist and politician. A former alumnus of the Ecole polytechnique, he was hired in 1970 by the Saint-Gobain group. In 1982, he became chairman of the board of Pont-à-Mousson SA...
– Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industry - François FillonFrançois FillonFrançois Charles Armand Fillon is the Prime Minister of France. He was appointed to that office by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. He served initially until 13 November 2010 when he resigned from being prime minister before a planned cabinet reshuffle.On 14 November 2010, Sarkozy...
– Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, and Solidarity - Dominique PerbenDominique PerbenDominique Perben is a French politician. Born in Lyon, he was French Minister of Transportation from 2005 to 2007. He was previously Minister of Justice , Minister of Civil Service and Administration and Minister of Overseas France .Perben has been a Deputy in the National Assembly for the fifth...
– Minister of Justice - Luc FerryLuc FerryLuc Ferry is a French philosopher and a notable proponent of Secular Humanism. He is a former member of the Saint-Simon Foundation think-tank....
– Minister of National Education, Youth, Higher Education, and Research - Jean-Jacques AillagonJean-Jacques AillagonJean-Jacques Aillagon is a French politician, a close confidant of Jacques Chirac and member of the Union for a Popular Movement political party. From 1972 to 1976 he was a high school teacher in the Corrèze region of France...
– Minister of Culture and Communication - Hervé GaymardHervé GaymardHervé Gaymard is a French politician and a member of UMP conservative party. He served as the country's Minister of Finances from 30 November 2004 until his resignation on 25 February 2005....
– Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs - Roselyne Bachelot – Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development
- Tokia SaïfiTokia SaïfiTokia Afféda Saïfi is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the North-West of France. She is a member of the Radical party and of the Union for a Popular Movement, part of the European People's Party. She is a former member of Ecology Generation.- References :* European...
– Minister Delegate of Sustainable Development - Jean-François LamourJean-François LamourJean-François Lamour is a former French fencer and current French politician and cabinet minister. A top fencer, he was a gold medallist at the 1984 Olympics and 1988 Olympics and a bronze medal winner at the 1992 Olympics in the men's individual sabre. He was also world champion in 1987...
– Minister of Sport - Brigitte Girardin – Minister of Overseas
- Gilles de RobienGilles de RobienCount Gilles de Robien is a French politician. He is the son of count Jean de Robien and of Éliane Le Mesre de Pas. The Robien are a noble family originating from Brittany....
– Minister of Transport, Housing, Tourism, Sea, and Equipment - Jean-François MattéiJean-François MattéiJean-François Mattéi, born 9 March 1941 in Oran, Algeria, is a French philosopher.-External links:...
– Minister of Health, Family, and Handicapped People - Jean-Paul DelevoyeJean-Paul DelevoyeJean-Paul Delevoye is a French politician.-Political career:After having worked in the food industry, he began his political career as a village councilman in 1974...
– Minister of Civil Service, Reform of the State, and Regional Planning - Noëlle LenoirNoelle LenoirNoëlle Lenoir, born on April 27, 1948 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, is a French stateswoman.-Career:Noelle Lenoir graduated from the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris and the Paris Law School and has been a professor in each of these institutions...
– Minister of European affairs
Third ministry (31 March 2004 – 29 November 2004)
- Jean-Pierre Raffarin – Prime Minister
- Michel BarnierMichel BarnierMichel Barnier is a French politician of the Union for a Popular Movement and Vice President of the European People's Party . He is the current European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services...
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Michèle Alliot-MarieMichèle Alliot-MarieMichèle Jeanne Honorine Alliot-Marie, born 10 September 1946 and nicknamed MAM, is a French politician of the Union for a Popular Movement . A member of all but one right-wing governments of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, she was the first woman in France to hold the portfolios of Defense , the...
– Minister of Defense - Dominique de VillepinDominique de VillepinDominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007....
– Minister of the Interior, Interior Security, and Local Liberties - Nicolas SarkozyNicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
– Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industry - Jean-Louis BorlooJean-Louis BorlooJean-Louis Borloo is a French politician, and was the French Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning between 2007 and 2010.-Professional résumé:Education...
– Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Cohesion - Dominique PerbenDominique PerbenDominique Perben is a French politician. Born in Lyon, he was French Minister of Transportation from 2005 to 2007. He was previously Minister of Justice , Minister of Civil Service and Administration and Minister of Overseas France .Perben has been a Deputy in the National Assembly for the fifth...
– Minister of Justice - François FillonFrançois FillonFrançois Charles Armand Fillon is the Prime Minister of France. He was appointed to that office by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. He served initially until 13 November 2010 when he resigned from being prime minister before a planned cabinet reshuffle.On 14 November 2010, Sarkozy...
– Minister of National Education, Higher Education, and Research- François d'AubertFrançois d'AubertFrançois d’Aubert is a French politician.He is, by profession, an auditor at the Cour des Comptes. Since 2002, he has been minister delegate to research in Jean-Pierre Raffarin's government....
– Minister delegate of Research
- François d'Aubert
- Renaud Donnedieu de VabresRenaud Donnedieu de VabresRenaud Donnedieu de Vabres , often known as RDDV, is a French politician, France's Minister of Culture from 2004 to 2007...
– Minister of Culture and Communication - Hervé GaymardHervé GaymardHervé Gaymard is a French politician and a member of UMP conservative party. He served as the country's Minister of Finances from 30 November 2004 until his resignation on 25 February 2005....
– Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fish, and Rural Affairs - Serge LepeltierSerge LepeltierSerge Lepeltier is a French politician.He studied at École des Hautes Études Commerciales.He was mayor of Bourges in 1995 and again in 2001...
– Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development - Jean-François LamourJean-François LamourJean-François Lamour is a former French fencer and current French politician and cabinet minister. A top fencer, he was a gold medallist at the 1984 Olympics and 1988 Olympics and a bronze medal winner at the 1992 Olympics in the men's individual sabre. He was also world champion in 1987...
– Minister of Youth, Sport, and Community Life - Brigitte Girardin – Minister of Overseas
- Gilles de RobienGilles de RobienCount Gilles de Robien is a French politician. He is the son of count Jean de Robien and of Éliane Le Mesre de Pas. The Robien are a noble family originating from Brittany....
– Minister of Transport, Tourism, Regional Planning, Sea, and Equipment - Philippe Douste-BlazyPhilippe Douste-BlazyPhilippe Douste-Blazy is a French centre-right politician. He served as Minister for Health , Minister of Culture and Foreign Minister in the cabinet of Dominique de Villepin .Douste-Blazy is also a cardiologist and Christian Democrat politician from Lourdes...
– Minister of Health and Social Protection - Marie-Josée RoigMarie-Josée RoigMarie-Josée Roig is a French politician and the current mayor of Avignon.She was first elected to Parliament on June 16, 2002 to the 1st District of Vaucluse.- Notes :...
– Minister of Family and Childhood - Renaud DutreilRenaud DutreilRenaud Dutreil , is a French politician. He was Minister for the Civil Service 2004–2005 and previously Minister for Small Businesses and Enterprise, from 2002 to 2004. He was born in Chambéry, Savoie....
– Minister of Civil Service and Reform of the State - Nicole AmelineNicole AmelineNicole Ameline is a member of the National Assembly of France. She represents the Calvados department, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.-References:...
– Minister of Parity and Professional Equality
Minor changes
29 November 2004 – following a Nicolas Sarkozy's resignation to become president of the UMPUnion 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...
scandal forcing Hervé Gaymard
Hervé Gaymard
Hervé Gaymard is a French politician and a member of UMP conservative party. He served as the country's Minister of Finances from 30 November 2004 until his resignation on 25 February 2005....
resignation.
- Hervé Gaymard – Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industry (replaced Nicolas Sarkozy)
- Dominique BussereauDominique BussereauDominique Bussereau is a French politician, was Secretary of State for Transport within the government of François Fillon...
– Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fish, and Rural Affairs (replaced Hervé GaymardHervé GaymardHervé Gaymard is a French politician and a member of UMP conservative party. He served as the country's Minister of Finances from 30 November 2004 until his resignation on 25 February 2005....
)
25 February 2005 – following a scandal forcing Gaymard's resignation
- Thierry BretonThierry BretonThierry Breton is a French businessman and politician who is currently the CEO of the IT firm Atos. He was the French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry in the governments of Prime Ministers Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Dominique de Villepin, Jacques Chirac being the President de la...
– Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industry
Raffarinades
Jean-Pierre Raffarin was often teased for his optimistic aphorismAphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
s, known colloquially and ironically as raffarinades, the best known being La route est droite, mais la pente est forte ("The road is straight, but the slope is steep"). Some consider that the word raffarinade was created in reference to the other French word mazarinade. However, mazarinade refers to the songs that the frondeurs (French revolutionaries during the Régence of Queen Anne – Archduchess of Austria – and chief minister Cardinal de Mazarin, before king Louis XIV's personal reign) sang to mock the unpopular chief minister.
Raffarin also tried his English prior to the referendum on the European draft Constitution but this turned out to be an ill-advised idea, as shown in this famous excerpt http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4118142947508150872&q=raffarin&pl=true from his speech: "Win the yes need the no to win against the no." The referendum itself was enventually nicknamed le Raffarindum by its opponents while Journée de solidarité envers les personnes âgées
Journée de solidarité envers les personnes âgées
The French Journée de solidarité envers les personnes âgées , established on June 30, 2004 under the government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin, was one where employees work one additional day each year , and one for which employers pay the state the approximate value of this day's work in increased...
(Day of solidarity with the elderly) is sometimes referred to as la Saint-Raffarin by discontented workers (following a decision by Raffarin, French workers are supposed to work on Whit Monday
Whit Monday
Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday is the holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost, a movable feast in the Christian calendar. It is movable because it is determined by the date of Easter....
for free).
Honours
- Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit of the French Republic (ex-officio) (2002)
- Officer of the National Order of QuebecNational Order of QuebecThe National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
(2003) http://www.ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca/membres/nominations_etrangeres.htm#raffarin - Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of RomaniaOrder of the Star of RomaniaThe Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
(2004) - Grand Officier of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...