.gif)
European Parliament election, 1994 (France)
Encyclopedia
On 12 June 1994 the fourth direct elections
to the European Parliament
were held in the France. Six lists were able to win seats: an alliance of the centre-right Union for French Democracy
and the Gaullist Rally for the Republic
, the Socialist Party
, the Left Radical Party
, the French Communist Party
, the National Front and Philippe de Villiers
' eurosceptic
right-wing dissident UDF list, which formed the Majorité pour l'autre Europe. 53.5% of the French population turned out
on election day, actually an improvement on the last election in 1989. The Greens
, who were weakened by an Ecology Generation list led by Brice Lalonde
(winning 2.01%) and also suffering from internal divisions between the party's left (who wanted an electoral alliance with the Soécialists and the left) and the right (rejecting all alliances), lost all 9 seats won in 1989. Arlette Laguiller
's Trotskyst Workers' Struggle (2.27%), Jean-Pierre Chevènement
's left-wing eurosceptic Citizens' Movement
(2.54%), the Sarajevo List
(1.57%) and the agrarian populistHunting, Fishing, Nature, Traditions (3.96%) were among the notable lists which did not pass the 5% threshold.
With 14.49%, the Socialists, the party of President François Mitterrand
, whose list was led by Michel Rocard
won its worst electoral result ever, losing votes mainly to the Radical list led by wealthy businessman and a protégé of Mitterrand, Bernard Tapie
. Most analysts agreed that Mitterrand supported Tapie's list behind the scenes, since Rocard was a personal rival of Mitterrand and he wished to destroy Rocard's chances in the 1995 presidential election
. In fact, Rocard resigned as First Secretary of the PS shortly thereafter and did not run in 1995 – Lionel Jospin
was the Socialist candidate.
The other surprise was Philippe de Villiers
success. Villiers, the President of the General Council
of Vendée
, was a eurosceptic member of the liberal component (PR
) of the pro-European UDF. He won a surprisingly strong 12.34%, and his thirteen MEPs formed the nucleus of the Europe of Nations
group. However, his success did not lead him to immediate political successes – he polled barely 4% in the 1995 presidential election
.
European Parliament election, 1994
The 1994 European Parliamentary Election was a European election held across the 12 European Union member states in June 1994.This election saw the merge of the European People's Party and European Democrats, an increase in the overall number of seats and a fall in overall turnout to...
to the 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...
were held in the France. Six lists were able to win seats: an alliance of the centre-right 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...
and the Gaullist Rally for the Republic
Rally for the Republic
The Rally for the Republic , was a French right-wing political party. Originating from the Union of Democrats for the Republic , it was founded by Jacques Chirac in 1976 and presented itself as the heir of Gaullism...
, 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...
, the Left Radical Party
Left Radical Party
The Radical Party of the Left is a minor social-liberal, and in opposition to its common understanding of its name, a moderate centre-left political party in France advocating radicalism, secularism to its french extend known as laïcité, progressivism, pro-Europeanism, individual freedom and...
, the French Communist Party
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...
, the National Front and Philippe de Villiers
Philippe de Villiers
Viscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintignon, known as Philippe de Villiers, born on 25 March 1949, is a French politician. He was the Mouvement pour la France nominee for the French presidential election of 2007. He received 2.23% of the vote, putting him in sixth place. As only the top...
' eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
right-wing dissident UDF list, which formed the Majorité pour l'autre Europe. 53.5% of the French population turned out
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
on election day, actually an improvement on the last election in 1989. The Greens
The Greens (France)
The Greens were a Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France. They had officially been in existence since 1984, but their spiritual roots could be traced as far back as René Dumont’s candidacy for the presidency in 1974...
, who were weakened by an Ecology Generation list led by Brice Lalonde
Brice Lalonde
Brice Lalonde is a former green party leader in France, who ran for President of France in the Presidential elections, 1981. In 1988 he was named Minister of the Environment, and in 1990 founded the green party Ecology Generation...
(winning 2.01%) and also suffering from internal divisions between the party's left (who wanted an electoral alliance with the Soécialists and the left) and the right (rejecting all alliances), lost all 9 seats won in 1989. Arlette Laguiller
Arlette Laguiller
Arlette Yvonne Laguiller is a French Trotskyist politician. Since 1973, she has been the spokeswoman and the best known leader and perennial candidate of the Lutte Ouvrière political party...
's Trotskyst Workers' Struggle (2.27%), 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....
's left-wing eurosceptic Citizens' Movement
Citizen and Republican Movement
The Citizen and Republican Movement is a political party in France. The party replaced, in 2002, the Citizens' Movement founded by Jean-Pierre Chevènement, who left the Socialist Party in 1993 due to his opposition to the Persian Gulf War and to the Maastricht Treaty...
(2.54%), the Sarajevo List
Sarajevo List
Sarajevo List was a political project in Sweden launched ahead of the 1995 European Parliament elections. The group contested the elections, with the intention of "giving a voice to Bosnia" in the European Parliament...
(1.57%) and the agrarian populistHunting, Fishing, Nature, Traditions (3.96%) were among the notable lists which did not pass the 5% threshold.
With 14.49%, the Socialists, the party of President François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
, whose list was led by 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...
won its worst electoral result ever, losing votes mainly to the Radical list led by wealthy businessman and a protégé of Mitterrand, Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie is a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Ministre de la Ville in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy, a businessman specializing in recovery for bankrupted companies, among which Adidas is the most famous ; and owner of sports teams...
. Most analysts agreed that Mitterrand supported Tapie's list behind the scenes, since Rocard was a personal rival of Mitterrand and he wished to destroy Rocard's chances in 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...
. In fact, Rocard resigned as First Secretary of the PS shortly thereafter and did not run in 1995 – 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...
was the Socialist candidate.
The other surprise was Philippe de Villiers
Philippe de Villiers
Viscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintignon, known as Philippe de Villiers, born on 25 March 1949, is a French politician. He was the Mouvement pour la France nominee for the French presidential election of 2007. He received 2.23% of the vote, putting him in sixth place. As only the top...
success. Villiers, the President of the General Council
President of the general council
In France, the President of the General Council is the locally-elected head of the General Council, the assembly governing a departments in France. The position is elected by the general councillors from among their number. If there is a tie, the senior Councillor is elected.The President of the...
of Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
, was a eurosceptic member of the liberal component (PR
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...
) of the pro-European UDF. He won a surprisingly strong 12.34%, and his thirteen MEPs formed the nucleus of the Europe of Nations
Europe of Nations
The Europe of Nations Group was a eurosceptic political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1994 and 1996.-History:The Europe of Nations Group was formed on July 19, 1994. It was the first Eurosceptic Group in the Parliament...
group. However, his success did not lead him to immediate political successes – he polled barely 4% in 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...
.
UDF – RPR
- Dominique BaudisDominique BaudisDominique Baudis is the French ombudsman. Formerly a journalist, politician and Mayor of Toulouse, he had been a member of DL and later of the leading centre-right Union for a Popular Movement....
- Hélène Carrère d'EncausseHélène Carrère d'EncausseHélène Carrère d'Encausse is the permanent secretary of the Académie Française and a historian specializing in Russian history....
- Yves GallandYves GallandYves Galland, born on 8 March 1941 in Paris, is a French politician and entrepreneur.- Biography :After his studies in law, Yves Galland started his career in the world of business before also starting his political career...
- Christian JacobChristian Jacob (French politician)Christian Jacob was the Minister of French Civil Service in Jacques Chirac's second term as President of France...
- Jean-Pierre RaffarinJean-Pierre RaffarinJean-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...
- Armelle Guinebertiére
- Nicole FontaineNicole FontaineNicole Fontaine is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Île-de-France. She is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement, part of the European People's Party...
- Alain PompidouAlain PompidouAlain Pompidou is a French scientist and politician. A former professor of histology, embryology and cytogenetics, he was the fourth president of the European Patent Office from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007...
- Yves Verwaerde
- Marie-Thérèse HermangeMarie-Thérèse HermangeMarie-Thérèse Hermange is a French politician and a member of the Senate of France. She represents Paris and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement Party.-References:*...
- Jean-Louis BourlangesJean-Louis BourlangesJean-Louis Bourlanges was a French Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 2007. He was elected on the Union for French Democracy ticket and sat with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group....
- Jacques Donnay
- Françoise GrossetêteFrançoise GrossetêteFrançoise Grossetête is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the South-East of France. She is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement; part of the European People's Party.-Member:...
- Blaise Aldo
- Robert HersantRobert HersantRobert Hersant was a French newspaper magnate with right-wing political views.- Biography :Hersant was born in Vertou, Loire-Atlantique....
- Anne-Marie Schaffner
- Francis Decourrière
- Christian Cabrol
- Bernard StasiBernard StasiBernard Stasi was a French politician. He is the son of Italo-Mexican immigrants. Stasi served as Minister for Overseas Departments and Territories from 2 April 1973 to 27 February 1974....
- Jean-Claude Pasty
- André Soulier
- Jean-Pierre Bazin
- Pierre Bernard-ReymondPierre Bernard-ReymondPierre Bernard-Reymond is a member of the Senate of France, representing the Hautes-Alpes department. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.-References:*...
- Raymond Chesa
- Georges de Brémond d'Ars
- Jean Baggioni
- Jean-Pierre Bebear
- Gérard d'AbovilleGérard d'AbovilleGérard d'Aboville is the first man to row across two oceans solo: the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. He crossed the Atlantic in 1980, travelling from Cape Cod to Brittany...
PS
- Michel RocardMichel RocardMichel 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...
- Catherine TrautmannCatherine TrautmannCatherine Trautmann is a former Minister of Culture of France and now Member of the European Parliament for the East of France.She was elected as mayor of Strasbourg in 1989, re-elected in 1995, then defeated in 2001....
- Bernard KouchnerBernard KouchnerBernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
- Danielle Darras
- André LaignelAndré LaignelAndré Laignel is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for Central France. He is a member of the Socialist Party, part of the Party of European Socialists.- Notes and References :...
- Nicole PeryNicole PéryNicole Péry, b. 15 May 1943, in Bayonne , is a French socialist politician. Her background is as a professor of literature.- Appointments :*1973, 1978, 1981, 1988: Parliamentary candidate*1977 to 1983: Deputy Mayor of Ciboure...
- Jack LangJack Lang (French politician)Jack Mathieu Émile Lang is a French politician. A member of the Socialist Party, he served as France's Minister of Culture from 1981 to 1986 and 1988 to 1992, and as Minister of Education from 1992 to 1993 and 2000 to 2002. He was also the Mayor of Blois from 1989 to 2000...
- Frédérique Bredin
- Pierre MoscoviciPierre MoscoviciPierre Moscovici is a French politician, a member of the Departmental Council of Doubs and a Member of the French Parliament. He is a member of the French Socialist Party ; part of the Party of European Socialists...
- Elisabeth GuigouÉlisabeth GuigouÉlisabeth Guigou is a French Socialist politician.-Biography:After attending ENA, France's elite graduate school of public affairs, she worked on Jacques Delors' staff in 1982 before being hired by Hubert Védrine in François Mitterrand's...
- Jean-Pierre CotJean-Pierre CotJean-Pierre Cot is a French Professor for International Law and judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.- Biography :He is the son of Pierre Cot, also politician and minister....
- Pervenche BerèsPervenche BérèsPervenche Berès is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Île-de-France. She is a member of the Socialist Party; part of the Party of European Socialists. On 28 July 2004 she was elected Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.-References:...
- François Bernardini
- Michèle Lindeperg
- Gérard Caudron
UDF dissidents
- Philippe de VilliersPhilippe de VilliersViscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintignon, known as Philippe de Villiers, born on 25 March 1949, is a French politician. He was the Mouvement pour la France nominee for the French presidential election of 2007. He received 2.23% of the vote, putting him in sixth place. As only the top...
- Jimmy Goldsmith
- Charles de Gaulle
- Thierry Jean-Pierre
- Philippe-Armand MartinPhilippe-Armand MartinPhilippe-Armand Martin is a French politician, a member of the National Assembly. He represents the Marne department, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement-References:...
- Françoise Seillier
- Georges Berthu
- Hervé Fabre-Aubrespy
- Dominique SouchetDominique SouchetDominique Souchet is a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the Vendée department, is a member of the Movement for France and does not align himself with any parliamentary group....
- Anne Christine Poisson
- Frédéric Striby
- Edouard Des Places
- Marie-France de Rose
PRG
- Bernard TapieBernard TapieBernard Tapie is a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Ministre de la Ville in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy, a businessman specializing in recovery for bankrupted companies, among which Adidas is the most famous ; and owner of sports teams...
- Jean-François Hory
- Catherine LalumièreCatherine LalumièreCatherine Lalumière is a French politician of the Radical-Socialist Party.Before her political career, she lectured on public law at the University of Rennes and the University of Paris I...
- Christiane Taubira-Delannon
- Noël MamèreNoël MamèreNoël Mamère is a French singer, cyclist and politician.He rose to fame in the 1980s as a TV entertainer, in particular on Antenne 2....
- Michel Dary
- André Sainjon
- Bernard Castagnède
- Odile Leperre-Verrier
- Pierre Pradier
- Christine Barthet-Mayer
- Dominique Saint-Pierre
- Antoinette FouqueAntoinette FouqueAntoinette Fouque , is a psychoanalyst and one of the leading figures of the French women's liberation movement....
FN
- Jean-Marie Le PenJean-Marie Le PenJean-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...
- Bruno MégretBruno MégretBruno 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.-Youth and studies:...
- Bruno GollnischBruno GollnischBruno 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...
- Jean-Claude MartinezJean-Claude MartinezJean-Claude Martinez is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the south-west of France. He was a member of the Front National, and was among the Non-Inscrits until the 2007 formation of the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty Group in the European Parliament...
- Carl LangCarl LangCarl Lang is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the north-west of France. He was member of the National Front from 1978 to 2008; he is currently president and co-founder of the Party of France...
- Marie-France StirboisMarie-France StirboisMarie-France Stirbois was a French National Front politician, representing Dreux from 1989 to 1993, and a Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1999 and from 2003 to 2004.An old militant of the National Front, Marie-France Stirbois marked French political life by achieving Marie-France...
- Bernard Antony
- Yvan BlotYvan BlotYvan 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....
- Jean-Marie Le Chevallier
- Fernand Le RachinelFernand Le RachinelFernand Le Rachinel is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the north-west of France. He is a member of the Front National, and is therefore a Non-Inscrit in the European Parliament...
- Jean-Yves Le GallouJean-Yves Le GallouJean-Yves Le Gallou is a leading French far right politician, member of the European Parliament since the 1994 election.- Career :...
PCF
- Francis WurtzFrancis WurtzFrancis Wurtz was a French Member of the European Parliament from 1979 till 2009. Elected in the Île-de-France constituency on the French Communist Party ticket, he sits with the European United Left - Nordic Green Left group, and is its current President...
- Sylviane Ainardi
- Philippe Herzog
- Gisèle Moreau
- René Piquet
- Mireille Elmalan
- Aline Pailler