Gaston Defferre
Encyclopedia
Gaston Defferre was a French socialist
politician.
, a Resistance Socialist
group during World War II
. A long-standing member of the National Assembly (1945–1958, 1962–1986) and member of the Senate (1959–1962), he also served for many years as mayor of Marseille
(1944–1945, 1953–1986). He was a formidable political force in the South-East, where he owned the major centre-left newspaper Le Provençal (which he co-founded at the Liberation) and later acquired the right-wing daily Le Méridional.
He was Merchant Marine Minister (1950–1952) then Overseas Minister (1956–1957). He prepared the end of French colonialism
in Sub-saharan Africa.
In his region, he faced a strong French Communist Party
(PCF) with which he was frequently in conflict. As Mayor he relied on the support of the non-Gaullist center-right in the municipal assembly. In the same way, he advocated a national alliance between the SFIO and the Chritian democratic Popular Republican Movement
(MRP). Before the 1965 presidential election
, L'Express
published an identikit of the best center-left candidate under the name of "Mister X". It corresponded with Defferre's profile (L'Express co-founder Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber
being a well known advocate of a Third Force
alliance of socialists, Christian democrats and Radicals). But, failing to create an SFIO-MRP-Radical Party federation, he gave way to Francois Mitterrand, whose preferred strategy for the Socialists was the formation of a left-wing coalition including the PCF.
However, he was the Socialist candidate in 1969 for the French presidency
, with the support of ex-Prime-Minister Pierre Mendès-France
, who would have been Prime Minister again had Defferre been elected. But he was soundly defeated, suffering from the polarisation of French politics following the events of May 1968, scoring only 5% of the vote, the lowest ever score for a French socialist candidate . The failure of Defferre prompted the birth of the new Socialist Party (PS) and buried the idea of an alliance with the centre-right.
Having been the main opponent of Guy Mollet
in the party, and leader of the Socialist group in the National Assembly
, he helped François Mitterrand
to take the leadership during the Epinay Congress
(1971), in spite of Mitterrand's strategy of an alliance with the Communists. He later served as Mitterrand's Interior Minister
from 1981 to 1984. He was the architect of the 1982 decentralization reforms. Town and Country Planning Minister until 1986, he died in office as Mayor of Marseille. His widow, Edmonde Charles-Roux
, is president of the literary circle the Académie Goncourt
.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
Senate of France
Municipal Council
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
politician.
Biography
Lawyer and member of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) political party, he was a member of the Brutus NetworkBrutus Network
The Brutus Network was a French Resistant movement during World War II. It was founded in 1941 by Pierre Fourcaud, parachuted in France with instructions from Charles de Gaulle to set up an intelligence network , and other socialist members of the French Section of the Workers' International ,...
, a Resistance Socialist
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
group during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A long-standing member of the National Assembly (1945–1958, 1962–1986) and member of the Senate (1959–1962), he also served for many years as mayor 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...
(1944–1945, 1953–1986). He was a formidable political force in the South-East, where he owned the major centre-left newspaper Le Provençal (which he co-founded at the Liberation) and later acquired the right-wing daily Le Méridional.
He was Merchant Marine Minister (1950–1952) then Overseas Minister (1956–1957). He prepared the end of French colonialism
French colonial empire
The French colonial empire was the set of territories outside Europe that were under French rule primarily from the 17th century to the late 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the colonial empire of France was the second-largest in the world behind the British Empire. The French colonial empire...
in Sub-saharan Africa.
In his region, he faced a strong 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...
(PCF) with which he was frequently in conflict. As Mayor he relied on the support of the non-Gaullist center-right in the municipal assembly. In the same way, he advocated a national alliance between the SFIO and the Chritian democratic Popular Republican Movement
Popular Republican Movement
The Popular Republican Movement was a French Christian democratic party of the Fourth Republic...
(MRP). Before the 1965 presidential election
French presidential election, 1965
The 1965 French presidential election was the first presidential election by direct universal suffrage of the Fifth Republic. It was also the first presidential election by direct universal suffrage since the Second Republic in 1848. It was won by incumbent president Charles de Gaulle who resigned...
, L'Express
L'Express (France)
L'Express is a French weekly news magazine. When founded in 1953 during the First Indochina War, it was modelled on the US magazine TIME.-History:...
published an identikit of the best center-left candidate under the name of "Mister X". It corresponded with Defferre's profile (L'Express co-founder Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber
Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber
Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber, often referred to as JJSS was a French journalist and politician. He co-founded L'Express in 1953 with Françoise Giroud, and then went on to become president of the Radical Party in 1971...
being a well known advocate of a Third Force
Third Force (France)
The Third Force was a French coalition during the Fourth Republic which gathered the French Section of the Workers' International party, the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance centre-right party, the Radicals, the Christian democrat Popular Republican Movement and other centrist...
alliance of socialists, Christian democrats and Radicals). But, failing to create an SFIO-MRP-Radical Party federation, he gave way to Francois Mitterrand, whose preferred strategy for the Socialists was the formation of a left-wing coalition including the PCF.
However, he was the Socialist candidate in 1969 for the French presidency
French presidential election, 1969
The 1969 French presidential election took place on 1 June and 15 June 1969. It occurred due to the resignation of President Charles de Gaulle on 28 April 1969. Indeed, De Gaulle had decided to consult the voters by referendum about regionalisation and the reform of the Senate, and he had announced...
, with the support of ex-Prime-Minister Pierre Mendès-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:...
, who would have been Prime Minister again had Defferre been elected. But he was soundly defeated, suffering from the polarisation of French politics following the events of May 1968, scoring only 5% of the vote, the lowest ever score for a French socialist candidate . The failure of Defferre prompted the birth of the new Socialist Party (PS) and buried the idea of an alliance with the centre-right.
Having been the main opponent of Guy Mollet
Guy Mollet
Guy Mollet was a French Socialist politician. He led the French Section of the Workers' International party from 1946 to 1969 and was Prime Minister in 1956–1957.-Early life and World War II:...
in the party, and leader of the Socialist group in the 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 ....
, he helped 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...
to take the leadership during the Epinay Congress
Epinay Congress
The Epinay Congress was the third national congress of the French Socialist Party , which took place on 11, 12 and 13 June 1971, in the town of Épinay-sur-Seine, in the northern suburbs of Paris...
(1971), in spite of Mitterrand's strategy of an alliance with the Communists. He later served as Mitterrand's Interior Minister
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
from 1981 to 1984. He was the architect of the 1982 decentralization reforms. Town and Country Planning Minister until 1986, he died in office as Mayor of Marseille. His widow, Edmonde Charles-Roux
Edmonde Charles-Roux
Edmonde Charles-Roux is a French writer.-Origin :She is the daughter of Francois Charles-Roux, Ambassador of France, member of the Institute of France, and last president of the Suez Canal Company....
, is president of the literary circle the Académie Goncourt
Académie Goncourt
The Société littéraire des Goncourt , usually called the académie Goncourt , is a French literary organization based in Paris. It was founded by the French writer and publisher Edmond de Goncourt...
.
Political career
Governmental functions- Secretary of State for Information : January–June 1946.
- Undersecretary of State for Overseas France : 1946-1947.
- Minister of Merchant Marine : 1950-1951 / March–August 1951.
- Minister of Overseas France : 1956-1957.
- Minister of State, Minister of Interior and Decentralization : 1981-1983.
- Minister of Interior and Decentralization : 1983-1984.
- Minister of State, Minister of Planning and Land Development : 1984-1986.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
- Member of the National Assembly of France for Bouches-du-RhôneBouches-du-RhôneBouches-du-Rhône is a department in the south of France named after the mouth of the Rhône River. It is the most populous department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Its INSEE and postal code is 13.-History of the department:...
: 1945-1958 / 1962-1981 (Became minister in 1981) / March-May 1986 (He died in 1986). Elected in 1945, reelected in June 1946, November 1946, 1951, 1956, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1986.
Senate of France
- Senator of Bouches-du-RhôneBouches-du-RhôneBouches-du-Rhône is a department in the south of France named after the mouth of the Rhône River. It is the most populous department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Its INSEE and postal code is 13.-History of the department:...
: 1959-1962 (Reelected member of the National Assembly of France in 1962). Elected in 1959.
Municipal Council
- Mayor of MarseilleMarseilleMarseille , 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...
: 1944-1945 / 1953-1986 (He died in 1986). Reelected in 1953, 1959, 1965, 1971, 1977, 1983. - Municipal councillor of MarseilleMarseilleMarseille , 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...
: 1944-1945 / 1953-1986 (He died in 1986). Reelected in 1953, 1959, 1965, 1971, 1977, 1983.