Jean-Pierre Chevènement
Encyclopedia
Jean-Pierre Chevènement (born 9 March 1939) 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.
The Chevènement family is of Swiss origin, with their original name, Schwennemann, having been gallicized
to Chevènement. He was born in Belfort
near the Swiss border, speaks German, and studied in Vienna
.
Chevènement's idiosyncratic left-wing nationalism has led to comparison with the late British politician Peter Shore
, he describes this Eurosceptic
and Gaullist position as "republican
". He has been Mayor of Belfort
from 1983 to 2008 and was a Deputy in the National Assembly from 1973 to 2002.
He joined the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) and founded the Center of Socialist Studies, Research and Education (Centre d'études, de recherche et d'éducation socialistes or CERES). The organization constituted the left-wing of the party, and promoted the alliance with the Communist Party.
In 1969 the SFIO was superseded by the Socialist Party
(Parti socialiste or PS). Two years later, CERES supported the takeover of the party by François Mitterrand
. It took a major part in drawing up the socialist plan for the winning 1981 elections.
Chevènement was Minister of Research and Industry from 1981 to 1983, when he resigned, for the first of three times over his career, because he did not agree with the change in economic policy made by President Mitterrand in order to stay in the European Monetary System
.
He has said that "a minister has to keep his mouth shut; if he wants to open it, he resigns". However, he returned to the cabinet as Minister of National Education from 1984 to 1986.
Appointed Minister of Defence in 1988, he served until 1991, when he resigned due to his opposition to the Gulf War
. After this he opposed the Maastricht Treaty
, an issue on which Mitterrand and the PS led the "yes" campaign. In 1993 he left the PS and founded a new political party: the Citizens' Movement (Mouvement des citoyens or MDC).
Chevènement and the MDC participated to the formation of the Plural Left coalition. When it won the 1997 legislative election
he became Minister of the Interior, but he resigned for the third time in 2000 because of his opposition to giving increased autonomy
to Corsica
.
On 2 September 1998, Chevènement underwent surgery to his gall bladder. He then had a severe allergic reaction to the anesthetic
, causing him to lapse into a coma for 8 days. He began to recover, leaving the hospital on 22 October, but he could not work in his ministry for another four months. As a result of this episode he gained the nickname "the miracle of the republic".
He was a candidate at the 2002 presidential election
. He put himself forward as the leader of the "republicans" against what he called the "Chirac
/Jospin
duo". He created the Republican Pole, for more left-wing nationalists
. He won 5% of the vote. Many Socialists blamed Chevènement for being responsible for the elimination of Lionel Jospin in the first round of the presidential race. Consequently, at the June 2002 legislative election
, the PS invested a candidate against him in the Belfort constituency. In this, he was defeated by the Union for a Popular Movement
(UMP) candidate and lost his parliamentary seat.
Finally, the Republican Pole split and Chevènement created the Citizen and Republican Movement
(Mouvement républicain et citoyen or MRC), which described itself as a left-wing party. He reconciled with the PS when, after raising the possibility of a new presidential candidacy, he renounced this to support Ségolène Royal
's candidacy in the 2007 presidential election
. In spite of the PS support, he failed to retake his parliamentary seat at the 2007 legislative election
. He announced that he would not stand as a candidate for another term as Mayor of Belfort.
In 2004 he established the Foundation "Res Publica", which aims to promote the 'republican model' (le modèle républicain) and to define a long-term political vision. Chevènement states, however, that Res Publica is not a political party.
In the Senate election held on 21 September 2008
, Chevènement was elected as a Senator from the Territory of Belfort, defeating his opponent, Socialist candidate Yves Ackerman.
Minister of State Minister of Research and Technology : 1981–1982.
Minister of State, Minister of Industry Research : 1982–1983.
Minister of National Education : 1984–1986.
Minister of Defense : 1988–1991.
Minister of Interior : 1997–2000.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Territoire de Belfort
: 1973–1981 (Became minister in 1981) / 1986–1988 (Became minister in 1988) / 1991–1997 (Became minister in 1997) / 2000–2002. Elected in 1973, reelected in 1978, 1981, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000.
Senate of France
Senator of Territoire de Belfort
: Since 2008.
Regional Council
President of the Regional Council of Franche-Comté
: 1981–1982.
Regional councillor of Franche-Comté
: 1974–1988 (Resignation). Elected in 1986.
Municipal Council
Mayor of Belfort
: 1983–1997 (Resignation) / 2001–2007 (Resignation). Reelected in 1989, 1995, 2001.
1st deputy-mayor of Belfort
: 1977–1983 / 1997–2001. Reelected in 1997.
Municipal councillor of Belfort
: 1977–2008. Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001.
Agglomeration community Council
President of the Agglomeration community of Belfort : 1977–2008. Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001.
Member of the Agglomeration community of Belfort : 1977–2008. Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001.
Political functions
President of the Citizen and Republican Movement
: Since 2008.
Minister of Defence (France)
The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France....
from 1988 to 1991 and Minister of the Interior
Minister of the Interior (France)
The Minister of the Interior in France is one of the most important governmental cabinet positions, responsible for the following:* The general interior security of the country, with respect to criminal acts or natural catastrophes...
from 1997 to 2000. He was a presidential candidate in 2002 and since 2008 has been a member of the Senate.
The Chevènement family is of Swiss origin, with their original name, Schwennemann, having been gallicized
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
to Chevènement. He was born in Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
near the Swiss border, speaks German, and studied in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
Chevènement's idiosyncratic left-wing nationalism has led to comparison with the late British politician Peter Shore
Peter Shore
Peter David Shore, Baron Shore of Stepney PC was a British Labour politician and former Cabinet Minister, noted in part for his opposition to the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community. His idiosyncratic left-wing nationalism led to comparison with the French politician...
, he describes this 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...
and Gaullist position as "republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
". He has been Mayor of Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
from 1983 to 2008 and was a Deputy in the National Assembly from 1973 to 2002.
He joined the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) and founded the Center of Socialist Studies, Research and Education (Centre d'études, de recherche et d'éducation socialistes or CERES). The organization constituted the left-wing of the party, and promoted the alliance with the Communist Party.
In 1969 the SFIO was superseded by 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...
(Parti socialiste or PS). Two years later, CERES supported the takeover of the party by 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...
. It took a major part in drawing up the socialist plan for the winning 1981 elections.
Chevènement was Minister of Research and Industry from 1981 to 1983, when he resigned, for the first of three times over his career, because he did not agree with the change in economic policy made by President Mitterrand in order to stay in the European Monetary System
European Monetary System
There are three stages of monetary cooperation in the European Union.-Background:European currency exchange rate stability has been one of the most important objectives of European policy makers at least since the Second World War....
.
He has said that "a minister has to keep his mouth shut; if he wants to open it, he resigns". However, he returned to the cabinet as Minister of National Education from 1984 to 1986.
Appointed Minister of Defence in 1988, he served until 1991, when he resigned due to his opposition to the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. After this he opposed the Maastricht Treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
, an issue on which Mitterrand and the PS led the "yes" campaign. In 1993 he left the PS and founded a new political party: the Citizens' Movement (Mouvement des citoyens or MDC).
Chevènement and the MDC participated to the formation of the Plural Left coalition. When it won the 1997 legislative election
French legislative election, 1997
French legislative election took place on 25 May and 1 June 1997 to elect the 11th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic. It was the consequence of President Jacques Chirac's decision to call the legislative election one year before the deadline....
he became Minister of the Interior, but he resigned for the third time in 2000 because of his opposition to giving increased autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
to Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
.
On 2 September 1998, Chevènement underwent surgery to his gall bladder. He then had a severe allergic reaction to the anesthetic
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
, causing him to lapse into a coma for 8 days. He began to recover, leaving the hospital on 22 October, but he could not work in his ministry for another four months. As a result of this episode he gained the nickname "the miracle of the republic".
He was a candidate at the 2002 presidential election
French presidential election, 2002
The 2002 French presidential election consisted of a first round election on 21 April 2002, and a runoff election between the top two candidates on 5 May 2002. This presidential contest attracted a greater than usual amount of international attention because of Le Pen's unexpected appearance in...
. He put himself forward as the leader of the "republicans" against what he called the "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...
/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...
duo". He created the Republican Pole, for more left-wing nationalists
Left-wing nationalism
Left-wing nationalism describes a form of nationalism officially based upon equality, popular sovereignty, and national self-determination. It has its origins in the Jacobinism of the French Revolution. Left-wing nationalism typically espouses anti-imperialism...
. He won 5% of the vote. Many Socialists blamed Chevènement for being responsible for the elimination of Lionel Jospin in the first round of the presidential race. Consequently, at the June 2002 legislative election
French legislative election, 2002
-12th Assembly by Parliamentary Group:...
, the PS invested a candidate against him in the Belfort constituency. In this, he was defeated by 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) candidate and lost his parliamentary seat.
Finally, the Republican Pole split and Chevènement created the Citizen and Republican 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...
(Mouvement républicain et citoyen or MRC), which described itself as a left-wing party. He reconciled with the PS when, after raising the possibility of a new presidential candidacy, he renounced this to support Ségolène Royal
Ségolène Royal
Marie-Ségolène Royal , known as Ségolène Royal, is a French politician. She is the president of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council, a former member of the National Assembly, a former government minister, and a prominent member of the French Socialist Party...
's candidacy in the 2007 presidential election
French presidential election, 2007
The 2007 French presidential election, the ninth of the Fifth French Republic was held to elect the successor to Jacques Chirac as president of France for a five-year term.The winner, decided on 5 and 6 May 2007, was Nicolas Sarkozy...
. In spite of the PS support, he failed to retake his parliamentary seat at the 2007 legislative election
French legislative election, 2007
The French legislative elections took place on 10 June and 17 June 2007 to elect the 13th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic, a few weeks after the French presidential election run-off on 6 May. 7,639 candidates stood for 577 seats, including France's overseas possessions...
. He announced that he would not stand as a candidate for another term as Mayor of Belfort.
In 2004 he established the Foundation "Res Publica", which aims to promote the 'republican model' (le modèle républicain) and to define a long-term political vision. Chevènement states, however, that Res Publica is not a political party.
In the Senate election held on 21 September 2008
French Senate election, 2008
Indirect Senate elections were held for 114 of the 343 seats in the French Senate on 21 September 2008. With this election, the number of senators was increased from 331 to 343; Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin elected two senators each for the first time...
, Chevènement was elected as a Senator from the Territory of Belfort, defeating his opponent, Socialist candidate Yves Ackerman.
Political career
Governmental functionsMinister of State Minister of Research and Technology : 1981–1982.
Minister of State, Minister of Industry Research : 1982–1983.
Minister of National Education : 1984–1986.
Minister of Defense : 1988–1991.
Minister of Interior : 1997–2000.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Territoire de Belfort
Territoire de Belfort
The Territoire de Belfort is a department in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France.-Administration:Its departmental code is 90, and its prefecture is Belfort...
: 1973–1981 (Became minister in 1981) / 1986–1988 (Became minister in 1988) / 1991–1997 (Became minister in 1997) / 2000–2002. Elected in 1973, reelected in 1978, 1981, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000.
Senate of France
Senator of Territoire de Belfort
Territoire de Belfort
The Territoire de Belfort is a department in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France.-Administration:Its departmental code is 90, and its prefecture is Belfort...
: Since 2008.
Regional Council
President of the Regional Council of Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
: 1981–1982.
Regional councillor of Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
: 1974–1988 (Resignation). Elected in 1986.
Municipal Council
Mayor of Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
: 1983–1997 (Resignation) / 2001–2007 (Resignation). Reelected in 1989, 1995, 2001.
1st deputy-mayor of Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
: 1977–1983 / 1997–2001. Reelected in 1997.
Municipal councillor of Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
: 1977–2008. Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001.
Agglomeration community Council
President of the Agglomeration community of Belfort : 1977–2008. Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001.
Member of the Agglomeration community of Belfort : 1977–2008. Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001.
Political functions
President of the Citizen and Republican 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...
: Since 2008.