Bruno Mégret
Encyclopedia
Bruno Mégret is a French
Far-right politician
. He is the leader of the Mouvement National Républicain political party
, but retired in 2008 from political action.
and at the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
, and is by profession a senior civil servant. He also holds a Master's degree
from the University of California, Berkeley
. A graduate of the armored cavalry school of Saumur
, he is also a reserve army captain.
Bruno Mégret was ranked 317th at the competition for entrance at École Polytechnique in 1969, and since at that time only 300 candidates were admitted every year, he could enter only because some students preferred to study at the slightly more prestigious École Normale Supérieure
and turned down the École Polytechnique. However, at École Polytechnique he proved a very dedicated student, and was ranked 18th at the end of the studies. This enabled him to choose between the École des Mines and the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées to finish his engineering studies. After graduating from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, he spent the academic year 1974-1975 in Berkeley, and obtained a Master of Science. He then returned to France, the work for the Ministère de l'Équipement.
at the Commissariat Général du Plan, who invited him to join the Club de l'Horloge
. At the Club de l'Horloge, he became friends with Jean-Claude Bardet and Jean-Yves Le Gallou
,
who with Yvan Blot were also members of the GRECE. In 1977, Bruno Mégret started to work as an engineer on highway construction, at the Direction Départementale de l'Équipement (DDE) of Essonne. During this period, he contributed to the publications of the Club de l'Horloge. In 1979, he became technical advisor to the minister of cooperation Robert Galley. He also joined the Rassemblement pour la République (conservative political party) and was conservative candidate for legislative elections in 1981 against Michel Rocard
in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
.
In 1981, after the defeat of the conservatives in legislative elections, finding the RPR too moderate, and realizing that not being a graduate from the École Nationale d'Administration
like Jacques Toubon
or Jean-François Mancel
or Alain Juppé
was slowing down his political career in the Rassemblement pour la République, he went on to create the Comités d'Action Républicaine (CAR). However, the appearance of the Front National at the European Parliament elections of 1984, shattered the hopes of the CAR which did not even manage to have a list of candidates for these elections.
's National Front (FN, a far-right political party). In 1986 he was elected to the French National Assembly
, representing Isère
. A rival of Jean-Pierre Stirbois
, then general secretary of the FN (who died in 1988), he organised in 1987 Le Pen's election campaign and became the number two (délégué général) in the movement.
He became member of the European Parliament
for the FN between 1989 and 1999. In 1989, Bruno Mégret created the Institut de formation nationale, thr Centre d'études et d'argumentaires, the magazine Identité, the conseil scientifique and the publishing house Editions Nationales to elaborate the doctrine and diffuse the ideas of the Front National. His friends of the Club de l'Horloge Jean-Yves Le Gallou, Jean-Claude Bardet, Yvan Blot and Jean-Jacques Mourreau of the CAR also secured key positions in the hierarchy of the Front National.
However, the relationship between Le Pen
and Mégret turned sour during the following decade. Mégret and others inside the Front started criticizing Le Pen's "extremist" positions, which, they argued, prevented the Front from obtaining political executive positions. Moreover, Bruno Mégret started to become very popular with the militants of the party, winning a large support against his rival Bruno Gollnisch
that had been made vice-president and general secretary of the Front National by Le Pen in 1995.
On 9 February 1997 Bruno Mégret's wife, Catherine Mégret was elected mayor of Vitrolles
. Following the social unrest of November–December 1995, Bruno Mégret developed a strategy of creating new unions (FN-RATP, FN-TCL
, FN-Poste
, Mouvement pour un Education Nationale, FN-Police) and professional organisations tied to the Front National to increase the audience of the party. This strategy contrasted sharply with the previous traditional anti-union stance of the Front National.
In 1998, Bruno Mégret split from the Front National and founded the Mouvement National Républicain.
He received 2.33% of the vote in the first round of the 2002 French presidential election
. Bruno Mégret endorsed Jean-Marie Le Pen in the runoff against Jacques Chirac.
In 2007, he supported Jean-Marie Le Pen
in the French presidential election
.
After he was sentenced to 8 months of probation, 8000 Euro fine and one year ban from candidating in any election for defalcation of public funds, he resigned in 2008 from the political field. He used money from the town Vitrolles
to support his 2002 presidential run.
Member of the National Assembly of France for Isère
: 1986-1988
Member of European Parliament
: 1989-1999
Regional councillor of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
: 1992-2002
Municipal councillor of Marseille
: 2001-2008
Political function
President of the National Republican Movement
: 1998-2008
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...
Far-right politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the leader of the Mouvement National Républicain political party
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...
, but retired in 2008 from political action.
Youth and studies
Bruno Mégret studied at the École PolytechniqueÉcole Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
and at the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
Founded in 1747, the École nationale des ponts et chaussées , often referred to as les Ponts, is the world's oldest civil engineering school...
, and is by profession a senior civil servant. He also holds a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. A graduate of the armored cavalry school of Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
, he is also a reserve army captain.
Bruno Mégret was ranked 317th at the competition for entrance at École Polytechnique in 1969, and since at that time only 300 candidates were admitted every year, he could enter only because some students preferred to study at the slightly more prestigious École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
and turned down the École Polytechnique. However, at École Polytechnique he proved a very dedicated student, and was ranked 18th at the end of the studies. This enabled him to choose between the École des Mines and the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées to finish his engineering studies. After graduating from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, he spent the academic year 1974-1975 in Berkeley, and obtained a Master of Science. He then returned to France, the work for the Ministère de l'Équipement.
The Club de l'Horloge
In 1975, he met Yvan BlotYvan Blot
Yvan Blot is a French [conservative] political figure who has been a member of GRECE as well as the founder and president of the Club de l'Horloge....
at the Commissariat Général du Plan, who invited him to join the Club de l'Horloge
Club de l'Horloge
The Club de l'Horloge is a French far-right association founded in 1974. Close to the Nouvelle Droite movement, the club centers itself around the values of "liberalism, nationalism and democracy." Its president is Henry de Lesquen.-History:The Club de l'Horloge was founded by far-right members...
. At the Club de l'Horloge, he became friends with Jean-Claude Bardet and Jean-Yves Le Gallou
Jean-Yves Le Gallou
Jean-Yves Le Gallou is a leading French far right politician, member of the European Parliament since the 1994 election.- Career :...
,
who with Yvan Blot were also members of the GRECE. In 1977, Bruno Mégret started to work as an engineer on highway construction, at the Direction Départementale de l'Équipement (DDE) of Essonne. During this period, he contributed to the publications of the Club de l'Horloge. In 1979, he became technical advisor to the minister of cooperation Robert Galley. He also joined the Rassemblement pour la République (conservative political party) and was conservative candidate for legislative elections in 1981 against Michel Rocard
Michel Rocard
Michel Rocard is a French politician, member of the Socialist Party . He served as Prime Minister under François Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991, during which he created the Revenu minimum d'insertion , a social minimum welfare program for indigents, and led the Matignon Accords regarding the status...
in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
Conflans-Sainte-Honorine is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the north-western suburbs of Paris from the center....
.
École nationale d'administration
The École Nationale d'Administration , one of the most prestigious of French graduate schools , was created in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle to democratise access to the senior civil service. It is now entrusted with the selection and initial training of senior French officials...
like Jacques Toubon
Jacques Toubon
Jacques Toubon is a right-wing French politician who held several major national and Parisian offices.-Political career:Governmental functionsMinister of Culture : 1993–1995....
or Jean-François Mancel
Jean-François Mancel
Jean-François Mancel is a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the Oise department, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.-References:...
or 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...
was slowing down his political career in the Rassemblement pour la République, he went on to create the Comités d'Action Républicaine (CAR). However, the appearance of the Front National at the European Parliament elections of 1984, shattered the hopes of the CAR which did not even manage to have a list of candidates for these elections.
In the National Front and the MNR
In 1985 Bruno Mégret joined Jean-Marie Le PenJean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen is a French far right-wing and nationalist politician who is founder and former president of the Front National party. Le Pen has run for the French presidency five times, most notably in 2002, when in a surprise upset he came second, polling more votes in the first round than...
's National Front (FN, a far-right political party). In 1986 he was elected to the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
, representing Isère
Isère
Isère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
. A rival of Jean-Pierre Stirbois
Jean-Pierre Stirbois
Jean-Pierre Stirbois was a French far-right politician, husband of Marie-France Stirbois. He has been associated with the first electoral breakthrough of the National Front, in Dreux in 1983....
, then general secretary of the FN (who died in 1988), he organised in 1987 Le Pen's election campaign and became the number two (délégué général) in the movement.
He became member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the FN between 1989 and 1999. In 1989, Bruno Mégret created the Institut de formation nationale, thr Centre d'études et d'argumentaires, the magazine Identité, the conseil scientifique and the publishing house Editions Nationales to elaborate the doctrine and diffuse the ideas of the Front National. His friends of the Club de l'Horloge Jean-Yves Le Gallou, Jean-Claude Bardet, Yvan Blot and Jean-Jacques Mourreau of the CAR also secured key positions in the hierarchy of the Front National.
However, the relationship between Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen is a French far right-wing and nationalist politician who is founder and former president of the Front National party. Le Pen has run for the French presidency five times, most notably in 2002, when in a surprise upset he came second, polling more votes in the first round than...
and Mégret turned sour during the following decade. Mégret and others inside the Front started criticizing Le Pen's "extremist" positions, which, they argued, prevented the Front from obtaining political executive positions. Moreover, Bruno Mégret started to become very popular with the militants of the party, winning a large support against his rival Bruno Gollnisch
Bruno Gollnisch
Bruno Gollnisch is a French academic and politician, a member of the National Front far-right party, and a member of the European Parliament. He was chairman of the European Parliamentary group 'Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty' in 2007, which was dissolved in November 2007 following the...
that had been made vice-president and general secretary of the Front National by Le Pen in 1995.
On 9 February 1997 Bruno Mégret's wife, Catherine Mégret was elected mayor of Vitrolles
Vitrolles
Vitrolles is the name of several communes in France:* Vitrolles, Bouches-du-Rhône, in the Bouches-du-Rhône département* Vitrolles, Hautes-Alpes, in the Hautes-Alpes département* Vitrolles-en-Lubéron, in the Vaucluse département...
. Following the social unrest of November–December 1995, Bruno Mégret developed a strategy of creating new unions (FN-RATP, FN-TCL
Transports en commun lyonnais
The Transports en commun lyonnais is the Lyon public transport agency. It is the second largest public transport system in France , and covers 62 communes, including all 57 communes of the Urban Community of Lyon, spread over .- Network :The TCL manages:*4 metro lines...
, FN-Poste
La Poste (France)
La Poste is the mail service of France, which also operates postal services in the French Overseas Departments of Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana, and the territorial collectivities of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Mayotte...
, Mouvement pour un Education Nationale, FN-Police) and professional organisations tied to the Front National to increase the audience of the party. This strategy contrasted sharply with the previous traditional anti-union stance of the Front National.
In 1998, Bruno Mégret split from the Front National and founded the Mouvement National Républicain.
He received 2.33% of the vote in the first round of the 2002 French 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...
. Bruno Mégret endorsed Jean-Marie Le Pen in the runoff against Jacques Chirac.
In 2007, he supported Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen is a French far right-wing and nationalist politician who is founder and former president of the Front National party. Le Pen has run for the French presidency five times, most notably in 2002, when in a surprise upset he came second, polling more votes in the first round than...
in the French 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...
.
After he was sentenced to 8 months of probation, 8000 Euro fine and one year ban from candidating in any election for defalcation of public funds, he resigned in 2008 from the political field. He used money from the town Vitrolles
Vitrolles
Vitrolles is the name of several communes in France:* Vitrolles, Bouches-du-Rhône, in the Bouches-du-Rhône département* Vitrolles, Hautes-Alpes, in the Hautes-Alpes département* Vitrolles-en-Lubéron, in the Vaucluse département...
to support his 2002 presidential run.
Political career
Electoral mandatesMember of the National Assembly of France for Isère
Isère
Isère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
: 1986-1988
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...
: 1989-1999
Regional councillor of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...
: 1992-2002
Municipal councillor of Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
: 2001-2008
Political function
President of the National Republican Movement
National Republican Movement
The National Republican Movement is a French nationalist political party, created by Bruno Mégret with former Club de l'Horloge alumni, Yvan Blot and Jean-Yves Le Gallou, as a split from Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front on January 24, 1999.Although political observers have considered the MNR to...
: 1998-2008
External links
- Bruno Mégret's official website (in French)