Alain Madelin
Encyclopedia
Alain Madelin is a French politician and a former minister of that country.
Madelin, a strong supporter of laissez-faire
economics, was a candidate in the 2002 French presidential election
as the leader of the Démocratie Libérale party, where he scored 3.91% on the first round. Following the election, he became a member of the Union for a Popular Movement
(UMP).
He was minister of Industry in Prime Minister Jacques Chirac
's cabinet from 1986 to 1988, a minister of Business in Prime Minister Édouard Balladur
's cabinet from 1993 to 1995, and a minister of Economy and Finances
in Prime Minister Alain Juppé
's cabinet. He resigned after only four months, citing economic policy differences with Alain Juppe.
He was a member of the National Assembly
from 1978 to 2007 as representative for Ille-et-Vilaine
's fourth circumscription. The district includes the town of Redon
, where he was mayor from 1995 until 2001.
Madelin unsuccessfully ran in 1996 for president of the Union for French Democracy
(UDF), and was defeated by François Léotard
. He was elected as leader of the Parti Républicain, a part of the UDF coalition, which he renamed Démocratie Libérale. In 1998, Démocratie Libérale split from the UDF. Madelin's obtained slightly less 4% if the vote in the 2002 presidential election and merged his party into the UMP. After 2002, although his former supporter Jean-Pierre Raffarin
became Prime minister, and as a result of the end of Démocratie Libérale, Madelin's influence in French national politics dwindled.
Madelin is the French major politician the most in favor of the international policies of the United States, and supported the United States-led 2003 invasion of Iraq
. Because of this, he has, in the past, generally been considered with favor by the US press.
In July 2005, Alain Madelin rumors reported in the Canard Enchaîné stated that he would run for the OCDE and that he would be supported by both Jacques Chirac
(who allegedly wanted to get rid of him) and George W. Bush
(since Madelin is traditionally France's important politician closest to the United States). He did not run and Angel Gurria of Mexico was chosen.
Alain Madelin did not seek reelection in the 2007 elections, ending his involvement in partisan politics.
Minister of Industry and Tourism : 1986–1988.
Minister of Enterprise and Economic Development, small and medium enterprises, Trade and Crafts : 1993–1995.
Minister of Economy and Finance : May–August 1995 (Resignation).
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament
: June–November 1989 (Resignation) / 1999–2002 (Resignation). Elected in 1989, reelected in 1999.
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Ille-et-Vilaine
: 1978–1986 (Became minister in 1986) / 1988–1993 (Became minister in 1993) / 1995–2007. Elected in 1978, reelected in 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2002.
Regional Council
Vice-president of the Regional Council of Brittany: 1992–1998.
Regional councillor of Brittany: 1986–1998. Reelected in 1992.
General Council
General councillor of Ille-et-Vilaine
: 1994–1995 (Resignation).
Municipal Council
Mayor of Redon: 1995–2001.
Municipal councillor of Redon : 1995–2001.
Political functions
President of Liberal Democracy (France)
: 1997–2002.
Vice-president of the Union for French Democracy
: 1991–1996.
Vice-president of the Republican Party (France)
: 1986–1997.
Madelin, a strong supporter of laissez-faire
Laissez-faire
In economics, laissez-faire describes an environment in which transactions between private parties are free from state intervention, including restrictive regulations, taxes, tariffs and enforced monopolies....
economics, was a candidate in the 2002 French presidential election
French presidential election, 2002
The 2002 French presidential election consisted of a first round election on 21 April 2002, and a runoff election between the top two candidates on 5 May 2002. This presidential contest attracted a greater than usual amount of international attention because of Le Pen's unexpected appearance in...
as the leader of the Démocratie Libérale party, where he scored 3.91% on the first round. Following the election, he became a member of 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).
He was minister of Industry in Prime Minister Jacques 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...
's cabinet from 1986 to 1988, a minister of Business in Prime Minister Édouard Balladur
Édouard Balladur
Édouard Balladur is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 29 March 1993 to 10 May 1995.-Biography:Balladur was born in İzmir, Turkey, to an Armenian Catholic family with five children and long-standing ties to France...
's cabinet from 1993 to 1995, and a minister of Economy and Finances
Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (France)
The Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment , or Minister of Finance for short, is one of the most prominent positions in the cabinet of France after the Prime Minister....
in Prime Minister Alain Juppé
Alain Juppé
Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011...
's cabinet. He resigned after only four months, citing economic policy differences with Alain Juppe.
He was a member of 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 ....
from 1978 to 2007 as representative for Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
's fourth circumscription. The district includes the town of Redon
Redon, Ille-et-Vilaine
-Breton language:The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 10 October 2008.In 2008, 14.31% of the children attended bilingual schools in primary education.-Economy:* Cargill Texturising Systems - A pectin factory...
, where he was mayor from 1995 until 2001.
Madelin unsuccessfully ran in 1996 for president of the 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...
(UDF), and was defeated by François Léotard
François Léotard
François Gerard Marie Léotard is a retired French politician. The late singer and actor Philippe Léotard was his brother....
. He was elected as leader of the Parti Républicain, a part of the UDF coalition, which he renamed Démocratie Libérale. In 1998, Démocratie Libérale split from the UDF. Madelin's obtained slightly less 4% if the vote in the 2002 presidential election and merged his party into the UMP. After 2002, although his former supporter Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Jean-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...
became Prime minister, and as a result of the end of Démocratie Libérale, Madelin's influence in French national politics dwindled.
Madelin is the French major politician the most in favor of the international policies of the United States, and supported the United States-led 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. Because of this, he has, in the past, generally been considered with favor by the US press.
In July 2005, Alain Madelin rumors reported in the Canard Enchaîné stated that he would run for the OCDE and that he would be supported by both Jacques 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...
(who allegedly wanted to get rid of him) and George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
(since Madelin is traditionally France's important politician closest to the United States). He did not run and Angel Gurria of Mexico was chosen.
Alain Madelin did not seek reelection in the 2007 elections, ending his involvement in partisan politics.
Political career
Governmental functionsMinister of Industry and Tourism : 1986–1988.
Minister of Enterprise and Economic Development, small and medium enterprises, Trade and Crafts : 1993–1995.
Minister of Economy and Finance : May–August 1995 (Resignation).
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
: June–November 1989 (Resignation) / 1999–2002 (Resignation). Elected in 1989, reelected in 1999.
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
: 1978–1986 (Became minister in 1986) / 1988–1993 (Became minister in 1993) / 1995–2007. Elected in 1978, reelected in 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2002.
Regional Council
Vice-president of the Regional Council of Brittany: 1992–1998.
Regional councillor of Brittany: 1986–1998. Reelected in 1992.
General Council
General councillor of Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
: 1994–1995 (Resignation).
Municipal Council
Mayor of Redon: 1995–2001.
Municipal councillor of Redon : 1995–2001.
Political functions
President of Liberal Democracy (France)
Liberal Democracy (France)
Liberal Democracy was a French political party that advocated conservative liberalism and liberal conservatism, headed by Alain Madelin. The party replaced in 1997 the Republican Party, which was the classical liberal component of the Union for French Democracy .It became independent in 1998,...
: 1997–2002.
Vice-president of the 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...
: 1991–1996.
Vice-president of the Republican Party (France)
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...
: 1986–1997.
External links
- Alain Madelin official site