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Encyclopedia > Dominique de Villepin
Dominique de Villepin
Dominique de Villepin
167th Prime Minister of France
18th Prime Minister of Fifth Republic
In office
31 May 2005 – 17 May 2007
President Jacques Chirac
Preceded by Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Succeeded by François Fillon
In office
31 March 2004 – 31 May 2005
Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Preceded by Nicolas Sarkozy
Succeeded by Nicolas Sarkozy
In office
07 May 2002 – 31 March 2004
Preceded by Hubert Védrine
Succeeded by Michel Barnier
Born November 14, 1953 (1953-11-14) (age 54)
Rabat, Morocco
Political party UMP
Occupation Diplomat
Civil Servant
Religion Roman Catholic
France

This article is part of the series:
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Dominique de Villepin (born Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin (IPA: [dɔminik də vilpɛ̃] — listen (help· info)) on 14 November 1953 in Rabat, Morocco) served as the Prime Minister of France from May 31, 2005 to May 17, 2007. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen: Revolutionary patriotism borrows familiar iconography of the Ten Commandments Wikisource has original text related to this article: Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (French: La... In France, the country is often called the patrie des droits de lHomme (human rights homeland), mostly ironically by persons who complain about a perceived violation of theses rights. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This article is about the political and administrative structures of the French government. ... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ... Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ... // Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (20 December 1848 - 2 December 1852) Louis Jules Trochu (September 4, 1870 - January 22, 1871) (Interim President) Adolphe Thiers (17 February 1871 - 24 May 1873) (Head of Executive Power to 31 August 1871) Marshal Patrice de Mac-Mahon (24 May 1873 - 30 January 1879) Jules Armand... The Prime Minister of France (Premier ministre de la France) is the functional head of the Cabinet of France. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... This page is a list of French prime ministers. ... A republican guard giving directions to visitors at the front entrance of the Constitutional Council The Constitutional Council (Conseil Constitutionnel) was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958. ... 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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. ... // Metropolitan France As of January 1, 2004, metropolitan France is divided into: 22 régions (although strictly speaking Corsica is in fact a territorial collectivity, not a région, but is referred to as a région in common speech) the régions are divided into 96 départements the... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Departments (French: IPA: ) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to English counties. ... The European Union or EU is a supranational and international organization of 27 member states. ... A charter member of the United Nations, France holds one of the permanent seats in the Security Council and is a member of most of its specialized and related agencies. ... 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Mausoleum of Mohammed V through mosque ruins NASA image of Rabat Rabat (Arabic الرباط, transliterated ar-Rabāṭ or ar-Ribāṭ), population 1. ... The Prime Minister of France (Premier ministre de la France) is the functional head of the Cabinet of France. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...


A career diplomat, Villepin rose through the ranks of the French right as one of Jacques Chirac's protégés. He came into the international spotlight as Foreign Minister with his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq which culminated with a speech to the United Nations (French address on Iraq at the UN Security Council). “Chirac” redirects here. ... In 1589, the four French Secretaries of State became specialized, with one of the secretaries responsible for foreign affairs. ... This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ...


A French judicial process has been commenced against Villepin in connection with the Clearstream Affair. Magistrates are investigating whether he was complicit in allowing false accusations to proceed against presidential rival Nicolas Sarkozy regarding bribes paid on a sale of warships to Taiwan.[1][2] Recently, however, Villepin has enjoyed a modest return to public favour for his public critique of President Sarkozy's style of imperial rule.[3] Clearstream Banking S.A. (CB) is the clearing division of Deutsche Börse, based in Luxembourg. ... Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ...


He has three children: Marie (b. 1986), Arthur, and Victoire (b. 1989). He has written poetry, a book about poetry, and several historical and political essays, along with a study of Napoleon. Marie de Villepin (b. ...


Dominique de Villepin is an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation

Contents

Life

Villepin was born in Morocco and raised in Latin America – in Venezuela, among other places there. His lyrical texts and passion for France won him awards in 2001 for his book about the last 100 days of Napoleon's rule, entitled "Les Cent-jours, ou L'esprit de sacrifice."


Origins

Villepin's great-grandfather was a colonel in the French army, his grandfather was a board member for several companies, and his father Xavier de Villepin, now retired, was a diplomat and a member of the French Senate. The untimely death of his brother gravely affected him. Villepin speaks French, English and Spanish. For other uses, see Colonel (disambiguation). ... Xavier de Villepin Xavier Galouzeau de Villepin (born March 14, 1926 in Brussels, Belgium), simply known as Xavier de Villepin, is a former high ranking civil servant of France, and a former French senator from the center-right UMP party. ... The Senate amphitheater in the Luxembourg Palace The Senate (in French :le Sénat) is the upper house of the Parliament of France. ...


Career

Diplomat

Villepin studied at the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences-Po) and went on to the École nationale d'administration, France's highly selective post-graduate school which trains its top civil servants. Villepin also holds degrees in Civil law and French literature from the universities of Paris II Panthéon-Assas and Paris X Nanterre. At the end of his studies, Villepin entered a career in diplomacy. His assignments were: The Paris Institute of Political Studies (French: Institut détudes politiques de Paris), often referred to as Sciences-Po (pronounced see-ahns po), is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas The University of Paris II: Panthéon-Assas, also known as Paris deux or Assas after the rue dAssas where it is headquartered, is an elite French university which is most famous for its degrees in law and business but also teaches... The University of Paris X: Nanterre is a university in France. ...

  • Advising Committee on African affairs (1980 - 1984)
  • The French embassy in Washington, D.C. (1984 - 1989), as premier secrétaire until 1987 and then deuxième conseiller
  • The embassy in New Delhi (1989 - 1992), as deuxième conseiller until 1990 and then premier conseiller
  • Foreign Ministry's top adviser on Africa (1992 - 1993)

Villepin was also heavily involved in developing the French foreign policy leading up to the Rwandan genocide. Among his questionable decisions are the import of weapons in spite of an arms import embargo, as well as the close links to Hutu officials responsible for the genocide. ... This article is about the capital city of India. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass killing of the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutu sympathizers in Rwanda and was the largest atrocity during the Rwandan Civil War. ... The Hutu are a Central African ethnic group, living mainly in Rwanda and Burundi. ...


Politician

Villepin was introduced to Jacques Chirac in the early 1980s and became one of his advisers on foreign policy. In 1993 he became chief of staff (directeur de cabinet) of Alain Juppé, the Foreign Minister in Édouard Balladur's cabinet, and Chirac's political heir apparent. Alain Marie Juppé (born 15 August 1945) is Frances Minister of State, Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development ; among other positions, he was Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997. ... In 1589, the four French Secretaries of State became specialized, with one of the secretaries responsible for foreign affairs. ... Édouard Balladur (born 2 May 1929) is a French right-wing politician. ... Contrasting with heir presumptive, an heir apparent is one who cannot be prevented from inheriting by the birth of any other person. ...


Villepin then became director of Chirac's successful 1995 presidential campaign and was rewarded with the key job of Secretary-General of the Élysée Palace during his first term as President of the Republic (1995 - 2002). He advised the president to hold an early general election in 1997, while the French National Assembly was overwhelmingly dominated by the president's party. This was a risky gamble, and Chirac's party went on to lose the elections. Villepin offered Chirac his resignation afterwards, but was turned down. This increased the perception among many politicians on the right that Villepin was aloof and had no experience or understanding of grassroots politics, and owed his enviable position only to being Chirac's protégé. The entrance to the Élysée Palace. ... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ... The Palais Bourbon, front The French National Assembly (French: Assemblée nationale) is one of the two houses of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. ...


Villepin has an uneasy relationship with the members of his own political side. He has in the past made a number of demeaning remarks on members of parliament from his own party. In addition, his mutual distaste for Nicolas Sarkozy, head of the UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) majority party, is well-known Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ... The Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire, UMP), is the main French centre-right political party. ...


Foreign Minister

He was appointed Foreign Minister by Chirac in the cabinet of Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin at the beginning of his second term in 2002. The Prime Minister of France (Premier ministre de la France) is the functional head of the Cabinet of France. ... Jean-Pierre Raffarin Jean-Pierre Raffarin   listen? (born August 3, 1948) is a French conservative politician. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...


During the crisis in Haiti, Villepin once again showed himself to be a resolute decision-maker, obtaining the backing of the United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell, in his bid to solve the crisis by ousting Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power. Seal of the United States Department of State. ... General Colin Luther Powell, United States Army (Ret. ... Jean-Bertrand Aristide (born July 15, 1953) is a Haitian politician and former Roman Catholic priest who was President of Haiti in 1991, again from 1994 to 1996, and then from 2001 to 2004. ...


Villepin's most famous assignment as Chirac's Foreign Minister was opposing the U.S. plan to invade Iraq, making France look like the leader in a coalition of countries such as Germany, Belgium, Russia and China that opposed the invasion. The speech[4] he gave to the United Nations to block a second resolution allowing the use of force against Saddam Hussein's regime received loud applause. This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ...


Interior Minister

During the cabinet reshuffle that made Nicolas Sarkozy Finance Minister, Villepin was appointed to replace him as Interior Minister on 31 March 2004. Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ... The new ministry building in Bercy, Paris The Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (Ministre de lEconomie, des Finances et de lIndustrie), or Minister of Finances for short, is one of the most prominent positions in the cabinet of France after the Prime Minister. ... This page is a list of French interior ministers. ... is the 90th day of the year (91st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


His actions against radical Islam included mandatory courses for Muslim clerics, notably in the French language (a third of them do not speak it), in moderate Muslim theology and in French secularism: laïcité, Republican principles and the law. While Sarkozy created the French Council of the Muslim Faith, an official body which is now dominated by radicals, Villepin would have preferred a "Muslim foundation," in which mosque-based representatives would be balanced by secular and moderate Muslims. French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... Liberté, égalité, fraternité, French for Liberty, equality, fraternity (brotherhood), [1] is the motto of the French Republic, and is a typical example of a tripartite motto. ... Conseil Français du Culte Musulman (French: French Council of the Muslim Faith), usually abbreviated to CFCM, a group that is made up of 25 CRCMs (Conseil Regional du Culte Musulman or Regional Councils of the Muslim Faith). ...


He also cracked down on radical Muslim clerics, causing an uproar when he tried to expel Abdelkader Bouziane, an imam who taught that adulterous women could be whipped or stoned. When the decision to expel him was overturned by the courts, Villepin pushed a change of the law through Parliament, and Bouziane was sent home. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Stoning, or lapidation, refers to a form of capital punishment execution method carried out by an organized group throwing stones or rocks at the person they mean to execute. ...


Prime Minister

President Chirac was at one point thought to have turned his eye on Villepin as a possible successor, assuming that he himself would not enter the 2007 presidential contest. However, Nicolas Sarkozy was chosen to represent the centre-right UMP party. Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ... The Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire, UMP), is the main French centre-right political party. ...


On 29 May 2005, French voters in the referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe turned down the proposed document by a wide margin. Two days later, Raffarin resigned and Chirac appointed Villepin as Prime Minister of France. is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... On 29 May 2005 a referendum was held in France to decide whether the country should ratify the proposed Constitution of the European Union. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe The constitutional treaty as signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 by representatives of the EU member states The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE), commonly referred to as the European Constitution, was an unimplemented... The Prime Minister of France (Premier ministre de la France) is the functional head of the Cabinet of France. ...


Contrat Première Embauche (CPE), or First Employment Contract

Main article: First Employment Contract

On Thursday, March 16, 2006 tens of thousands of French university and school students marched to demand the government scrap a contentious youth jobs clause, known as CPE. The law, intended as a response to the 2005 riots, was intended to stimulate job growth and arrest the 23% youth unemployment rate by allowing employers to fire employees aged under 26 within the first two years of their employment for any or no reason. Supporters of the law argued that such probationary arrangements are not unusual in Western countries and that the current system in France discourages employers from hiring people whom they may be unable to fire if they prove unsuitable for the job. Critics argue that it discriminates unnecessarily against the young and decreases job security. The union movement issued an ultimatum to Villepin to scrap the law by March 20 or face a general strike. This ultimatum expired without concession. A general strike was called for March 28. Demonstration against CPE, March 28, 2006, Paris Jussieu en lutte (Jussieu is fighting), Villepin va précariser. ... is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Demonstration against CPE, March 28, 2006, Paris Jussieu en lutte (Jussieu is fighting), Villepin va précariser. ... French riots and French civil unrest redirect here. ... is the 79th day of the year (80th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...


General strike, demonstrations, and the fall of Villepin

On March 28 between one and three million people demonstrated across France. The protests were accompanied by some violence and 800 people were arrested, 500 of them in Paris. Prime Minister Villepin refused to withdraw the CPE but called for negotiations on adapting it. The demonstrators for the most part called for the complete withdrawal of the CPE. is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...


More unrest for Villepin

On June 20, 2006 during the questions to government in the National Assembly, Dominique de Villepin accused head of the Socialist Party François Hollande of cowardice.[5] Hollande had questioned the Prime Minister about the recent "insider trading" scandal involving the aerospace company EADS and executive Noël Forgeard. This triggered an incident in the Assembly, with Socialist deputies converging on the government benches and were stopped by the Assembly ushers. Hollande demanded apologies and the resignation of the Prime Minister [6]; the next day, Dominique de Villepin apologized. This event resulted in criticism even from Villepin's own UMP party, with UMP parliamentarians including Assembly vice-president Yves Bur suggesting that president Chirac should appoint another Prime Minister.[7] is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Palais Bourbon, front The French National Assembly (French: Assemblée nationale) is one of the two houses of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. ... François Hollande (born August 12, 1954) is a French politician. ... Cowardice is a vice that is conventionally viewed as the corruption of prudence, to thwart all courage or bravery. ... The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. (EADS) is a large European aerospace corporation, formed by the merger on July 10, 2000 of Aérospatiale-Matra of France, Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) of Spain, and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA) of Germany. ... Noël Forgeard (born December 8, 1946) is a French industrialist, and is joint CEO of EADS. Until June 2005 Foregard was CEO of the aircraft manufacturer Airbus SAS. In late 2004 he was nominated as the next French CEO of EADS. This position is shared with a German - then... The Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire, UMP), is the main French centre-right political party. ... “Chirac” redirects here. ...


Clearstream affair

In 2004, French judges were given a list by an anonymous source containing the names of politicians and others who, it was alleged, had deposited kickbacks from a 1991 arms sale to Taiwan into secret accounts at Clearstream, a private bank in Luxembourg. The most prominent name on the list was that of Nicholas Sarkozy, Villepin’s rival for power in the UMP. The list was later shown to be fraudulent, a discovery Villepin kept from the public for 15 months at a time when the two men were vying for party supremacy.[8] Meanwhile, the source of the list was later revealed to be a longtime associate of Villepin’s, one Jean-Louis Gergorin, an executive at EADS. Critics claimed that Villepin, perhaps with the support of then-president Jacques Chirac, had tried to defame his rival. Sarkozy, in turn, filed a suit against whomever was behind the creation of the Clearstream list. An investigation continues.[9]


Presidential bid

There was speculation that Villepin might be a candidate in the 2007 Presidential election; however, interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy was selected unopposed as the UMP's presidential candidate on January 14 2007.[10] On March 12, 2007 Villepin formally endorsed Sarkozy for President.[11] 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. ... Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ...


Villepin's first cabinet

In an address to the nation, Chirac had declared that the new cabinet's top priority would be to curb unemployment, which was consistently hovering above 10%, calling for a "national mobilization" to that effect. CIA figures for world unemployment rates, 2006 Unemployment is the state in which a person is without work, available to work, and is currently seeking work. ...


Villepin's cabinet was marked by its small membership (for France), and its hierarchical unity: all members had the rank of Minister, and there were no Secretaries of State, the lowest cabinet member rank. The aim of this decision was for the cabinet to form a close-knit and more efficient team to combat unemployment.


The French economy was growing sluggishly and a significant drop in unemployment was yet to be seen. Villepin's aim was therefore to restore the French people's trust in their government, an achievement for which he publicly set himself a deadline of a hundred days from the appointment of cabinet.


Another issue was the European Constitution which appears condemned after its rejection by France and the Netherlands in referenda, and the shelving of the planned referendum in the United Kingdom, Poland and other countries. The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, commonly referred to as the European Constitution, is an international treaty intended to create a constitution for the European Union. ...


Some had speculated that Villepin, with his diplomatic experience and the prestige associated with the job of Prime Minister, would negotiate a new treaty with the European Union, while Sarkozy would run the country at home. However, Villepin obtained favorable reviews from the press and temporarily increased popularity in polls. In particular, he was increasingly cited as a possible presidential candidate for 2007, although Nicolas Sarkozy had publicly stated that he himself was giving considerable attention to that election. Villepin and Sarkozy initially avoided any open division. 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. ...


Villepin declared that lowering unemployment was the number one objective of his government (which, was also the case of other prime ministers before him, to no avail). He, as well as the UMP party, believed that France's workforce rules were too rigid and discouraged employment, and that some liberalizing reforms were necessary in order to "correct" the French social model.


On August 2, 2005 he issued ordinances establishing a new kind of work contract (called CNE) for small enterprises, with fewer guarantees than ordinary contracts. While Villepin's measures would surely have been approved by his wide UMP majority in Parliament. Villepin said the government needed to act fast, especially when Parliament was going on its summer recess. is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up ordinance in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...


On 16 January 2006 he announced a similar kind of work contract (called Contrat première embauche, or CPE) for young people (under 26). The parliament approved on 8 February. Subsequently students started to protest. This wave of protest eventually forced the government to give in. Although the law on the CPE is formally still valid, the government promised to hinder its application and initiated a new legal initiative which will abolish the key points of the CPE. During the protests, Villepin was widely perceived as stubborn and arrogant. As a consequence, his popularity rates went down rapidly and he was no longer regarded as a serious contender for the 2007 presidential election. is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Demonstration against CPE, March 18, 2006, Paris The Contrat première embauche (CPE), translated first employment contract (although it may not be a first employment contract for the employee), is a proposed French law set to take effect in April 2006 that gives employers the right to fire without justification... is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 2006 labor protests in France occurred throughout France during February, March, and April 2006 as a result of opposition to a measure set to deregulate labor. ...


Another major issue in Villepin's government was the state of the national budget. France runs high deficits, which run afoul of the rules set in the EU Maastricht Treaty. Villepin's margin of maneuver in that respect was extremely slim. The Maastricht Treaty (formally, the Treaty of European Union, TEU) was signed on February 7, 1992 in Maastricht, Netherlands after final negotiations in December 1991 between the members of the European Community and entered into force on November 1, 1993 during the Delors Commission. ...


Cabinet membership

Ministers The Prime Minister of France (Premier ministre de la France) is the functional head of the Cabinet of France. ...

Delegate ministers Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ... Minister of State is a title borne by officials in certain countries governed under the parliamentary system. ... The entrance to the Ministry in Place Beauvau is guarded by one gendarme (to the left) and one policewoman (to the right). ... Michèle Alliot-Marie Michèle Jeanne Honorine Alliot-Marie (born 10 September 1946) is the French minister of interior, and the first woman to lead a major French political party. ... The Minister of Defence (Ministre de la Défense) is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France. ... Philippe Douste-Blazy at the United Nations summit on September 16, 2005 Philippe Douste-Blazy (b. ... The honour entrance to the Ministry building on the Quai dOrsay The Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Government of France, is the cabinet member responsible for the Republics network of relationships with foreign nations. ... Jean-Louis Borloo Jean-Louis Borloo (born 7 April 1951 in Paris within a Picard family) is a French politician, and currently the French Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development and Planning. ... The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment is a cabinet member in the Government of France. ... Thierry Breton (born January 15, 1955 in Paris) is the French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industry. ... The new ministry building in Bercy, Paris The Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (Ministre de lEconomie, des Finances et de lIndustrie), or Minister of Finances for short, is one of the most prominent positions in the cabinet of France after the Prime Minister. ... Gilles de Robien (April 10, 1941) is a notable French politician. ... Categories: French government | France-related stubs | Education in France ... Pascal Clément (born 12 May 1945) is a French conservative politician. ... In the context of the Politics of France under the Republic, Keeper of the Seals (Garde des Sceaux) is a title held by the Minister of Justice. ... The French Minister of Justice (Ministre de la Justice) is an important cabinet official in the Government of France. ... Dominique Perben Dominique Perben was born in Lyon on 11 August 1945 and has been French Minister of Transportation since 2005. ... The Minister of Transportation is a cabinet member in the Government of France. ... Xavier Bertrand (born March 21, 1965 in Châlons-sur-Marne, Marne) is a French politician. ... The Minister of Health and Solidarity is a cabinet member in in the Government of France responsible for overseeing Frances massive healthcare system (including universal healthcare), family services and services to the handicapped/differently-abled. ... Dominique Bussereau is currently the Minister of Agriculture in France. ... The Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fishing and Rural Affairs is a cabinet member in the Government of France. ... For the lyrical jazz pianist, see Christian Jacob. ... Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres is Frances Minister of Culture since 2003. ... Minister of culture is a cabinet position in a government: Minister of Canadian Heritage (Canada) Minister of Culture (Denmark) (Denmark) Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan) (Japan) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (United Kingdom) Categories: Disambiguation | Government stubs ... Nelly Olin is currently the Minister of Environment in France. ... The Minister of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Territorial Development (fr:Ministre de lEcologie, de lEnergie, du Developpement Durable et de lAmenagement du Territoire) (also called Minister of Ecology) is a cabinet member in the Government of France. ... François Baroin (born June 21, 1965) is a French politician. ... The Minister of Overseas France (Ministre de lOutremer, formerly Minister of Overseas France and her Colonies) is a cabinet member in the Government of France responsible for overseeing French overseas departments and territories (such as the département doutre-mer). ... Renaud Dutreil is currently the Minister for Small Businesses and Enterprise in France. ... Jean-François Lamour (born February 2, 1957) is a French former fencer and current politician and cabinet minister. ... The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (Ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports, alternatively translated Minister of Youth and Sports) is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national and public sport associations, youth affairs, public sports centers and national stadia (like the Stade de...

  • Henri Cuq, delegate minister for relationships with Parliament;
  • Azouz Begag, delegate minister for equal opportunities;
  • Jean-François Copé, delegate minister for budget and the reform of the State, spokesman for the Government;
  • Gérard Larcher, delegate minister for employment, work, and the professional insertion of the young;
  • Catherine Vautrin, delegate minister for social cohesion and parity [of the sexes];
  • Brigitte Girardin, delegate minister for international cooperation, development and francophonie;
  • Brice Hortefeux, delegate minister for local governments;
  • Catherine Colonna, delegate minister for European affairs;
  • François Goulard, delegate minister for higher education and research;
  • Léon Bertrand, delegate minister for tourism;
  • Philippe Bas, delegate minister for Social Security, the elderly, the handicapped, and the family;
  • François Loos, delegate minister for industry;
  • Christine Lagarde, delegate minister for foreign commerce;
  • Hamlaoui Mékachéra, delegate minister for war veterans;
  • Christian Estrosi, delegate minister for the management of the territory.

The Parlement of France is bicameral, and consists of the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) and the Senate (Sénat). ... Azouz Begag in 2007 Azouz Begag, (Arabic: ) (born 5 February 1957 in Lyon, Rhône, France) from a Kabyle background is a French writer and researcher in economics and sociology at the CNRS. He was the delegate minister for equal opportunities of France in the government of French Prime Minister... Jean-François Copé is a French politician born on 5 May 1964 in Boulogne-Billancourt. ... Motto Égalité, Complémentarité, Solidarité Members and participants of La Francophonie. ... Brice Hortefeux (born 11 May 1958 in Neuilly-sur-Seine) is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for central France. ... Léon Betrand in 2003 Léon Bertrand is a politician born on 11 May 1951 in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana. ... Social security primarily refers to social welfare service concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. ... François Loos François Loos (born on 24 December 1953) was appointed Minister Delegate for Industry on 2 June 2005, following a term as Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade (June 2002 to May 2005). ... Christine Lagarde (born 1 January 1956) is the current Minister of Finance of France, appointed in June 2007. ... Former crewmembers of the battleship Missouri pose for photos shortly after the Anniversary of the End of World War II ceremony, held aboard the famous ship. ... Christian Estrosi (born July 1, 1955) is a French politician and is Secretary of State in charge of the French Overseas, under Michèle Alliot-Marie, minister of the interior. ...

Shuffles

26 March 2007[12] March 26 is the 85th day of the year (86th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

  • Nicolas Sarkozy ceases to be Minister of the Interior and is replaced by François Baroin.
  • François Baroin ceases to be Minister of Overseas France and is replaced by Hervé Mariton.
  • Xavier Bertrand ceases to be Minister of Health and Solidarity and is replaced by Philippe Bas.

5 April 2007[13] Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ... François Baroin (born June 21, 1965) is a French politician. ... François Baroin (born June 21, 1965) is a French politician. ... Xavier Bertrand (born March 21, 1965 in Châlons-sur-Marne, Marne) is a French politician. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

  • Azouz Begag ceases to be delegate Minister for equal opportunities and is not replaced.

Azouz Begag in 2007 Azouz Begag, (Arabic: ) (born 5 February 1957 in Lyon, Rhône, France) from a Kabyle background is a French writer and researcher in economics and sociology at the CNRS. He was the delegate minister for equal opportunities of France in the government of French Prime Minister...

Resignation

On May 15, 2007, on the last full day of President Jacques Chirac´s term Villepin tendered his resignation from the office of Prime Minister and it was accepted by the President.[14]. He was replaced two days later by François Fillon. is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... “Chirac” redirects here. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...


Post Prime Ministerial career

Context of Villepin's political career

Villepin has never held elected office; the French Constitution allows the president to appoint unelected ministers. This is a political liability for him, because he is periodically accused of being out of touch with the realities of ordinary citizens. He is also reported to despise elected officials, calling members of Parliament connards (an insult)[15]. Villepin is not the first "unelected" prime minister, even in the relatively short history of the Fifth Republic: notable predecessors include Georges Pompidou, who was a banker before being called to office, and Raymond Barre, who had a previous career as a professor and appointed official, and started an elected career only after being Prime minister. The current Constitution of France was adopted on October 4, 1958, and has been amended 17 times, most recently on March 28, 2003. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou (5 July 1911 – 2 April 1974) was President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974. ... Raymond Barre was born on April 12, 1924 in Saint Denis, the capital of the French island of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. ... The meaning of the word professor (Latin: [1]) varies. ...


Bibliography: works written by Villepin himself

  • 2001: Les Cent-Jours ou l'esprit de sacrifice (Perrin, 2001 - Le Grand livre du mois, 2001 - Perrin, 2002 - Éditions France loisirs, 2003); soulful writing on a topic which Villepin says has fascinated him since childhood, the "One Hundred Days" between the return of Napoleon from Elba and the defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, interesting for its contrast with English & American & Hollywood & even many other French views of its controversial subject, awarded the Grand Prix d'Histoire of the Fondation Napoléon (2001) and the Prix des Ambassadeurs (2001);
  • 2002: Le cri de la gargouille (Éditions Albin Michel, 2002 - Librairie générale française, 2003), a "meditation" upon French politics, in the classical style, written with cascading imagery, a pensive and deliberate analysis of the good & the bad & the really ugly & the truly magnificent, in the French political character -- enjoyable reading;
  • 2003: Éloge des voleurs de feu (NRF-Gallimard, 2003), in English On Poetry, which is some reflections on the subject; Villepin is said to have worked on the final draft during the UN session where the French successfully blocked authorization of the 2003 War in Iraq;
  • 2003: Un autre monde (l'Herne, 2003), preface by Stanley Hoffmann, tr. américain Toward a new world: speeches, essays, and interviews on the war in Iraq, the UN, and the changing face of Europe (Hoboken, N.J. : Melville House, c2004), a selection of speeches by Villepin as Foreign Minister, with commentary by Hoffman, Susan Sontag, Carlos Fuentes, Norman Mailer, Régis Debray, Mario Vargas Llosa, others;
  • 2003: Preface to Aventuriers du monde 1866-1914 : Les grands explorateurs français au temps des premiers photographes (L'Iconoclaste, 2003), collective work;
  • 2004: Preface to l'Entente cordiale de Fachoda à la Grande Guerre : Dans les archives du Quai d'Orsay, Maurice Vaïsse (Éditions Complexe, 2004);
  • 2004: Preface, with Jack Straw, to l'Entente cordiale dans le siècle (Odile Jacob, 2004);
  • 2004: Preface to 1905, la séparation des Églises et de l'État : les textes fondateurs (Perrin, 2004);
  • 2004: Preface to Mehdi Qotbi : le voyage de l'écriture (Paris : Somogy, 2004 - Paris : Somogy, 2005), "published on the occasion of an exhibition organized by the Institut Français du Nord and Attijariwafa Bank, presented at the Galerie Delacroix of the Institut français du Nord at Tangiers from June 25 to September 5 2004 and at the Espace d'Art Actua of the Attijariwafa Bank, Casablanca, Oct-Dec 2004" -- Villepin has a lifelong and interesting personal connection with the Maghreb and the Third World -- "born in Rabat, raised in Latin America", as the bios put it;
  • 2004: Le requin et la mouette (Plon : A. Michel, 2004), essay;
  • 2005: Histoire de la diplomatie française with Jean-Claude Allain, Françoise Autrand, Lucien Bély (Perrin, 2005);
  • 2005: L'Homme européen, with Jorge Semprun (Plon, 2005 - Perrin, octobre 2005), a pamphlet in favour of the Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe;
  • 2005: Urgences de la poésie ([Casablanca] : Eds. de la Maison de la Poésie du Maroc, July 2005) tr. into Arabic by Mohamed Bennis, illustr. by Mehdi Qotbi; includes three poems by Villepin himself, "Elegies barbares", "Le droit d’aînesse", and "Sécession";
  • 2006: [16], The Globalist, 3 March, 2006.

The Hundred Days (French Cent-Jours) or the Waterloo Campaign commonly refers to the period between 20 March 1815, the date on which Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Paris after his return from Elba, and 8 July 1815, the date of the restoration of King Louis XVIII. The phrase Cent jours... Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (born Napoleone di Buonaparte, changed his name to Napoléon Bonaparte)[1] (15 August 1769; Ajaccio, Corsica – 5 May 1821; Saint Helena) was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... Combatants French Empire Seventh Coalition: United Kingdom Prussia United Netherlands Hanover Nassau Brunswick Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, Michel Ney Duke of Wellington, Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Anglo-Allies 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by about 18:00) Casualties 25,000 killed or wounded 7,000... Éditions Albin Michel is a French publisher. ... For other uses of the term, see Iraq war (disambiguation) The 2003 invasion of Iraq (also called the 2nd or 3rd Persian Gulf War) began on March 20, 2003, when forces belonging primarily to the United States and the United Kingdom invaded Iraq without the explicit backing of the United... Stanley Hoffmann is a teacher at Harvard University int the United States of America. ... John Whitaker Straw (born August 3, 1946) is a British Labour Party politician. ... Jorge Semprún (1923 - ) is a Spanish writer and politician. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe The constitutional treaty as signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 by representatives of the EU member states The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE), commonly referred to as the European Constitution, was an unimplemented... The Globalist is an daily online magazine that focuses on the economics, politics and culture[1] of globalization. ...

Bibliography: general

  • 1986: Villepin, Patrick de, Encore et toujours : François Xavier Galouzeau de Villepin, 1814-1885, un Lorrain émigré à Paris au XIXe siècle (Paris (21 rue Surcouf, 75007) : P. de Villepin, 1986)
  • 1987: Villepin, Patrick de, "Maintenir" : histoire de la famille Galouzeau de Villepin (1397-1987) ([Paris] (21 rue Surcouf, 75007) : P. de Villepin, 1987)
  • 2004: Le Maire, Bruno, Le ministre : récit (Paris : B. Grasset, 2004) ISBN 2-246-67611-8.
  • 2005: Derai, Yves et Mantoux, Aymeric, L'homme qui s'aimait trop (Paris : l'Archipel, impr. 2005) ISBN 2-84187-753-1.
  • 2005: Saint-Iran, Jean, Les cent semaines (Paris : Privé, DL 2005) ISBN 2-35076-011-1.

Quotes

  • L'option de la guerre peut apparaître a priori la plus rapide. Mais n'oublions pas qu'après avoir gagné la guerre, il faut construire la paix. ("The option of war might seem a priori to be the swiftest. But let us not forget that having won the war, one has to build peace." (address on Iraq at the United Nations Security Council on February 14, 2003, shortly before the US-led invasion of Iraq [17]
  • "We need a strong policy to combat radical Islam. It is used as a breeding-ground for terrorism. We cannot afford not to watch them very closely." As Interior Minister, December 2004.
  • "With the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime, a dark era is drawing to a close. And we welcome it...Together we must now build peace in Iraq and for France this has to mean the United Nations having a central role. Together we must build peace throughout the region and this can be done only through the determined search for a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" (see[18]).

“Security Council” redirects here. ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... In 1589, the four French Secretaries of State became specialized, with one of the secretaries responsible for foreign affairs. ... This page is a list of French interior ministers. ... This page is a list of French prime ministers. ... This article is about political groups and tendencies in France. ...

References

  1. ^ Villepin faces charges in smear campaign in France International Herald Tribune.
  2. ^ "De Villepin likely to face conspiracy charges", Times online, July 6, 2007. Retrieved on July 6, 2007. 
  3. ^ "Top politicians warn of 'Sarkozy the monarch'", The Independent, February 18, 2008. Retrieved on February 18, 2008. 
  4. ^ Embassy of France in the US - Situation in Iraq/Persian Gulf
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ http://www.liberation.fr/page.php?Article=391985
  7. ^ Assemblée : Villepin présente ses excuses à Hollande - France - LCI
  8. ^ De Villepin could face charges over smear plot against Sarkozy | World news | The Guardian
  9. ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/22/world/main1640276.shtml
  10. ^ BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Sarkozy nod for presidential run
  11. ^ French Premier Throws Support for Presidency to Political Rival - New York Times
  12. ^ Remaniement ministériel: communiqué de la Présidence de la République. - Présidence de la République
  13. ^ Remaniement ministériel: communiqué de la Présidence de la République. - Présidence de la République
  14. ^ Démission du gouvernement: communiqué. - Présidence de la République
  15. ^ http://www.liberation.fr/page.php?Article=369569
  16. ^ "The French Vision of European Identity"
  17. ^ [2])
  18. ^ In Sainte-Maxime, 10.04.2003

For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ...

External links

Preceded by
Hubert Védrine		 Secretary-General of the Presidency of the French Republic
1995-2002		 Succeeded by
Philippe Bas
Preceded by
Hubert Védrine		 Minister of Foreign Affairs
2002-2004		 Succeeded by
Michel Barnier
Preceded by
Nicolas Sarkozy		 Minister of the Interior
2004-2005		 Succeeded by
Nicolas Sarkozy
Preceded by
Jean-Pierre Raffarin		 Prime Minister of France
2005-2007		 Succeeded by
François Fillon

  Results from FactBites:
 
Dominique de Villepin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (2766 words)
The Galouzeau de Villepin family is among these, since the Galouzeau, a family of commoners originally from the Yonne département, added "de Villepin" to their name in the early 18th century by the marriage of a Galouzeau ancestor with a woman from a seemingly aristocratic de Villepin family of Lorraine.
Accordingly, Villepin's great-grandfather was a colonel in the French army, his grandfather was a board member for several companies and his father, Xavier de Villepin, now retired, was himself a diplomat and a member of the French Senate.
Villepin then became director of Chirac's successful 1995 presidential campaign and was rewarded with the key job of Secretary-General of the Élysée Palace during his first term as President of the Republic (1995-2002).
Dominique de Villepin - definition of Dominique de Villepin in Encyclopedia (398 words)
Dominique Galouzeau de Villepin (born November 14, 1953) is a French civil servant and politician.
General secretary of the Élysée Palace during Jacques Chirac's first term as president of France (1995-2002), he became famous for advising the president to hold an early general election, while the French National Assembly was overwhelmingly dominated by the president's party, which lost the elections.
With Chirac's heir-in-waiting, former Prime Minister Alain Juppé, barred from holding political office for 10 years (2004-2008) on the grounds of corruption, President Chirac is said to have turned his eye on de Villepin as a possible successor, should he himself decide not to enter the 2007 presidential contest.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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