Charles Pasqua
Encyclopedia
Charles Pasqua is a French businessman and Gaullist politician. He was Interior Minister from 1986 to 1988, under Jacques Chirac
's cohabitation government, and also from 1993 to 1995, under the government of Edouard Balladur
. He was first elected deputy of the UDR
Gaullist party in 1968, ten years after having founded the Service d'Action Civique
(SAC) organisation. Counsellor of Jacques Chirac alongside Marie-France Garaud, he was in charge of the organisation of Chirac's campaign for the 1981 presidential election
, won by the candidate of the Socialist Party
(PS), François Mitterrand
(1981–1995). As such, he is considered to be Chirac's mentor in politics. However, he broke with Chirac before the 1995 presidential election
, supporting against him the candidacy of Edouard Balladur for the neo-Gaullist party, the Rally for the Republic
(RPR). He created in 1999 the euro-sceptic Rally for France and European Independence
(RPF) party and allied himself with Philippe de Villiers
's Movement for France
(MPF) party for the 1999 European elections
. President of the General Council of the Hauts-de-Seine
from 1988 to 2004, he broke with de Villiers after his success at these elections, arriving second after the Socialist Party. President of the Union for Europe of the Nations
at the European Parliament
from 1999 to 2004, he was re-elected Senator of the Hauts-de-Seine in 2004 on the list of the Union for a Popular Movement
(UMP, successor to the RPR), a function which he had already held from 1977 to 1986, then from 1988 to 1993, and finally from 1995 to 1999.
Pasqua has been involved in various political scandals, including the Angolagate
arms trafficking scandal, involving Pierre Falcone
, the Sofremi affair, the Annemasse casino affair, another affair concerning the moving of the headquarters of Alstom
company, as well as the Fondation Hamon affair
. He has denied receiving money from Saddam Hussein
's government during the course of the Oil-for-Food Programme
, following the publication of his name in 2004 on the list published by Al Mada. On 27 October 2009, Pasqua was convicted for his role in the illegal arms sales to Angola. He was fined 100,000 euros and received a one year prison sentence.
, Alpes-Maritimes and has a degree in Law. From 1952 to 1971 he worked for Ricard
, a producer of alcoholic beverages (most notably pastis
), starting as a salesman.
In 1947 he helped create the section of the Gaullist Party RPF
movement for the Alpes-Maritimes
.
With Jacques Foccart
, he helped create the Service d'Action Civique
(SAC) in 1959 to counter the terrorist actions of the OAS
during the Algerian War of Independence
(1954–1962). The SAC would be charged with the underground actions of the Gaullist movement
and participated in the organization of the 30 May 1968 Gaullist counter-demonstration
; it was officially dissolved by President Mitterrand
in 1982, after the "Auriol massacre" on the night of 18 July 1981 (the five members of the Auriol commando were condemned on 1 May 1985 to sentences between 15 years of prison and life-sentences; however, the mastermind behind inspector Massié's murder was never identified).
From 1968 to 1973, he was deputy
to the French National Assembly
for the Hauts-de-Seine
département for the UDR party, of which he was a leading member from 1974 to 1976. He helped Jacques Chirac
to take the lead of the party and participated in its transformation into the Rally for the Republic
(RPR).
From 1981 to 1986 he was senator
for the Hauts-de-Seine, then president of the RPR group in the Senate.
From 1986 to 1988 he was Interior Minister (in charge of law enforcement). The left-wing opposition claimed, in vain, his resignation after the murder of Malik Oussekine by police, during the demonstration of young against the Devaquet law. He incarnated the "hard wing" of the Neo-Gaullist party, and tried to stop the flight of the RPR voters towards the National Front.
After Chirac's defeat at the 1988 presidential election
, he criticized the abandonment of the Gaullist doctrine and the so moderate positions of the RPR. In 1990, he allied with Philippe Séguin
and disputed Chirac's leadership. In 1992, he called a vote against the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty
.
He became Interior Minister again from 1993 to 1995, and supported the candidacy of Edouard Balladur
at the 1995 presidential election
. He is mostly remembered for having pushed a series of anti-immigration laws (lois Pasqua), and for his declaration "we will terrorize the terrorists." He expelled CIA agents on charges of economic espionage.
Pasqua distanced himself in 1998 from RPR and Jacques Chirac
, arguing that Chirac was not a true heir of Gaullism
. He then headed the Rally for France (RPF), a sovereignist (Eurosceptic
) party, for a while in association with Philippe de Villiers
. At the 1999 European Parliament election, their list got ahead of the RPR list. However, his alliance with de Villiers split.
In 2002 he ran for president, but dropped out after allegedly failing to obtain the 500 representatives' signatures needed to enter the race. Many suspect that he decided not to run because Jean-Marie Le Pen
's presence in the election did not leave him enough political space.
In 2003 he was elected a deputy to the European parliament
. In 2004, he was elected senator
by an electoral college
. Many commentators alleged that this senate position, granting parliamentary immunity
, was motivated by prosecution closing on Pasqua with respect to corruption practices
in the Hauts-de-Seine
département.
Charles Pasqua did not run in the 2007 presidential election.
In 2004 his name appeared on the list, published by al Mada, of people who allegedly received corruption money from Saddam Hussein
's government in Iraq
during the course of the Oil-for-Food Program.
Following the publication of the Al Mada article, a US Senate report accused him, along with the British Respect
MP, George Galloway
, of receiving the right to buy oil under the UN's oil-for-food scheme. Pasqua denied the charges and pointed out that he never met Saddam Hussein, never been to Iraq and never cultivated any political ties with that country. In a lengthy written rebuttal to the Senate report, Charles Pasqua pointed out further that since the oil vouchers were lifted by a legal entity incorporated in a European country, it should be relatively easy for investigators to uncover the masterminds behind the fraud instead of making accusations based on "sensational" press articles.
The investigations
concerning the Annemasse casino affair and the move to Saint-Ouen
of the headquarter of GEC-Alstom's transport subsidiary were closed in February 2007. In the first affair, which dates back to 1994 while he was Interior Minister of Edouard Balladur
, Pasqua was suspected of having delivered an administrative authorization to operate a casino
in Annemasse
to Robert Feliciaggi in exchange for future political funding. Robert Felliciagi was assassinated in March 2006 in Ajaccio
, Corsica. He had resold the casino in 1995, making an important profit
. In the second affair concerning Alstom, Etienne Léandri
, a friend of Pasqua's, reportedly received an illegal commission of 5.2 million Francs (790,000 euros).
The Sofremi affair is still under investigation. It concerns monies paid between 1993 to 1995 by the Sofremi, a weapons exporter
attached the Ministry of Interior, to people close to Pasqua.
Along with André Santini
, Pasqua was also the subject of investigations concerning an affair related to the Jean Hamon donation. A wealthy mecene, Jean Hamon, had donated in 2000 to the department of the Hauts-de-Seine 192 works of art, estimated to be worth 192 millions euros. The Hauts-de-Seine, then led by Pasqua, was supposed to create a museum for them in Issy-les-Moulineaux
, but the project was abandoned. An investigation was opened in 2003 when a judge based in Versailles
asked herself why the Hauts-de-Seine department had paid for the care of these works of art, for a total amount of 800,000 euros, while they were still stored in a castle owned by the billionaire. Since the department continued to pay for a year after Nicolas Sarkozy
's take-over of the department's general council, the affair may also involve him. Sarkozy won the 2007 presidential election
as the UMP candidate.
Minister of Interior : 1986–1988
Minister of State, minister of Interior and Planning : 1993–1995
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament
: 1999–2004. Elected in 1999.
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Hauts-de-Seine
: 1968–1973.
Senate of France
President of the group of the Rally for the Republic : 1981–1986 (Became minister) / 1988–1993 (Became minister).
Senator of Hauts-de-Seine
: 1977–1986 (Became minister in 1986) / Reelected in 1986, but he stays as minister / 1988–1993 (Became minister in 1993) / 1995–1999 (Became member of European Parliament
in 1999) / 2004-2011. Elected in 1977, reelected in 1986, 1988, 1995, 2004.
General Council
General councillor of Hauts-de-Seine
: 1970–1976 / 1988–2004 (Resignation). Reelected in 1988, 1994, 2001.
President of the General Council of Hauts-de-Seine
: 1973–1976 / 1988–2004. Reelected in 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2001.
Municipal Council
Municipal councillor of Neuilly-sur-Seine
: 1983–2001. Reelected in 1989, 1995.
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 cohabitation government, and also from 1993 to 1995, under the government of Edouard 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...
. He was first elected deputy of the UDR
Union des Démocrates pour la République
The Union for the Defence of the Republic or Union of Democrats for the Republic , commonly abbreviated UDR, was a Gaullist political party of France from 1968 to 1976....
Gaullist party in 1968, ten years after having founded the Service d'Action Civique
Service d'Action Civique
The SAC , officially created in January 1960, was a Gaullist militia founded by Jacques Foccart, Charles de Gaulle's chief adviser for African matters, and Pierre Debizet, a former Resistant and official director of the group...
(SAC) organisation. Counsellor of Jacques Chirac alongside Marie-France Garaud, he was in charge of the organisation of Chirac's campaign for the 1981 presidential election
French presidential election, 1981
The French presidential election of 1981 took place on 10 May 1981, giving the presidency of France to François Mitterrand, the first Socialist president of the Fifth Republic....
, won by the candidate of 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...
(PS), 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...
(1981–1995). As such, he is considered to be Chirac's mentor in politics. However, he broke with Chirac before the 1995 presidential election
French presidential election, 1995
Presidential elections took place in France on 23 April and 7 May 1995, to elect the fifth president of the Fifth Republic.The incumbent Socialist president, François Mitterrand, did not stand for a third term. He was 78, had cancer, and his party had lost the previous legislative election in a...
, supporting against him the candidacy of Edouard Balladur for the neo-Gaullist party, the Rally for the Republic
Rally for the Republic
The Rally for the Republic , was a French right-wing political party. Originating from the Union of Democrats for the Republic , it was founded by Jacques Chirac in 1976 and presented itself as the heir of Gaullism...
(RPR). He created in 1999 the euro-sceptic Rally for France and European Independence
Rally for France and European Independence
The Rally for France , also briefly known in 2003 as Rally for France and European Independence or Rassemblement pour la France et l'Indépendance de l'Europe) is a political party in France of the right. It was founded in 1999 by the current party president, the Gaullist and former Interior...
(RPF) party and allied himself with Philippe de Villiers
Philippe de Villiers
Viscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintignon, known as Philippe de Villiers, born on 25 March 1949, is a French politician. He was the Mouvement pour la France nominee for the French presidential election of 2007. He received 2.23% of the vote, putting him in sixth place. As only the top...
's Movement for France
Movement for France
The Movement for France , abbreviated to MPF, is a French conservative and eurosceptic political party, founded on 20 November 1994, with a marked regional stronghold in the Vendée. It is led by Philippe de Villiers, once communications minister under Jacques Chirac.The party is considered...
(MPF) party for the 1999 European elections
European Parliament election, 1999
The European Parliament Election, 1999 was a European election for all 626 members of the European Parliament held across the 15 European Union member states on 10, 11 and 13 June 1999. The voter turn-out was generally low, except in Belgium and Luxembourg, where voting is compulsory and where...
. President of the General Council of the Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
from 1988 to 2004, he broke with de Villiers after his success at these elections, arriving second after the Socialist Party. President of the Union for Europe of the Nations
Union for Europe of the Nations
Union for Europe of the Nations was a political group of the European Parliament between 1999 and 2009.-History:UEN was formed on 20 July 1999, supplanting the earlier Union for Europe. Its member parties Fianna Fáil and National Alliance were the driving forces behind the group, despite their...
at the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
from 1999 to 2004, he was re-elected Senator of the Hauts-de-Seine in 2004 on the list 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, successor to the RPR), a function which he had already held from 1977 to 1986, then from 1988 to 1993, and finally from 1995 to 1999.
Pasqua has been involved in various political scandals, including the Angolagate
Angolagate
Angolagate, also known as the Mitterrand-Pasqua affair, is an international political scandal over the secret sale and shipment of arms from Central Europe to the government of Angola by the Government of France in the 1990s...
arms trafficking scandal, involving Pierre Falcone
Pierre Falcone
Pierre Falcone is a member of Angola's delegation to UNESCO, and holds the rank of Minister Counsellor. He is married to artist and socialite Sonia Falcone....
, the Sofremi affair, the Annemasse casino affair, another affair concerning the moving of the headquarters of Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
company, as well as the Fondation Hamon affair
Fondation Hamon affair
The Fondation Hamon affair was a French political scandal surrounding the Fondation Hamon, a project to build a modern art museum on île Saint-Germain at Issy-les-Moulineaux, later abandoned....
. He has denied receiving money from Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's government during the course of the Oil-for-Food Programme
Oil-for-Food Programme
The Oil-for-Food Programme , established by the United Nations in 1995 was established with the stated intent to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs for ordinary Iraqi citizens without allowing Iraq to boost its military...
, following the publication of his name in 2004 on the list published by Al Mada. On 27 October 2009, Pasqua was convicted for his role in the illegal arms sales to Angola. He was fined 100,000 euros and received a one year prison sentence.
Life and political career
Pasqua was born in GrasseGrasse
-See also:*Route Napoléon*Ancient Diocese of Grasse*Communes of the Alpes-Maritimes department-External links:*...
, Alpes-Maritimes and has a degree in Law. From 1952 to 1971 he worked for Ricard
Ricard
Ricard may mean:*Pernod Ricard, a major producer of pastis , formed from Pernod Fils and Ricard*Ricard Pastis, a leading brand of pastis...
, a producer of alcoholic beverages (most notably pastis
Pastis
Pastis is an anise-flavored liqueur and apéritif from France, typically containing 40–45% alcohol by volume, although alcohol-free varieties exist.-Origins:...
), starting as a salesman.
In 1947 he helped create the section of the Gaullist Party RPF
Gaullist Party
In France, the Gaullist Party is usually used to refer to the largest party professing to be Gaullist. Gaullism claimed to transcend the left/right rift...
movement for the Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
.
With Jacques Foccart
Jacques Foccart
Jacques Foccart was a chief adviser for the government of France on African policy as well as the co-founder of the Gaullist Service d'Action Civique in 1959 with Charles Pasqua, which specialized in covert operations in Africa.From 1960 to 1974, he was the President of France's chief of staff...
, he helped create the Service d'Action Civique
Service d'Action Civique
The SAC , officially created in January 1960, was a Gaullist militia founded by Jacques Foccart, Charles de Gaulle's chief adviser for African matters, and Pierre Debizet, a former Resistant and official director of the group...
(SAC) in 1959 to counter the terrorist actions of the OAS
Organisation armée secrète
The Organisation de l'armée secrète was a short-lived, French far-right nationalist militant and underground organization during the Algerian War . The OAS used armed struggle in an attempt to prevent Algeria's independence...
during the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
(1954–1962). The SAC would be charged with the underground actions of the Gaullist movement
Gaullist Party
In France, the Gaullist Party is usually used to refer to the largest party professing to be Gaullist. Gaullism claimed to transcend the left/right rift...
and participated in the organization of the 30 May 1968 Gaullist counter-demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
; it was officially dissolved by President 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...
in 1982, after the "Auriol massacre" on the night of 18 July 1981 (the five members of the Auriol commando were condemned on 1 May 1985 to sentences between 15 years of prison and life-sentences; however, the mastermind behind inspector Massié's murder was never identified).
From 1968 to 1973, he was deputy
Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or can refer to a unicameral legislature.-Description:...
to the French 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 ....
for the Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
département for the UDR party, of which he was a leading member from 1974 to 1976. He helped 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...
to take the lead of the party and participated in its transformation into the Rally for the Republic
Gaullist Party
In France, the Gaullist Party is usually used to refer to the largest party professing to be Gaullist. Gaullism claimed to transcend the left/right rift...
(RPR).
From 1981 to 1986 he was senator
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
for the Hauts-de-Seine, then president of the RPR group in the Senate.
From 1986 to 1988 he was Interior Minister (in charge of law enforcement). The left-wing opposition claimed, in vain, his resignation after the murder of Malik Oussekine by police, during the demonstration of young against the Devaquet law. He incarnated the "hard wing" of the Neo-Gaullist party, and tried to stop the flight of the RPR voters towards the National Front.
After Chirac's defeat at the 1988 presidential election
French presidential election, 1988
Presidential elections were held in France on 24 April and 8 May 1988.In 1981, the Socialist Party leader, François Mitterrand, was elected President of France and the Left won the legislative election. However, in 1986, the Right regained a parliamentary majority. President Mitterrand was forced...
, he criticized the abandonment of the Gaullist doctrine and the so moderate positions of the RPR. In 1990, he allied with Philippe Séguin
Philippe Séguin
Philippe Séguin was a French political figure who was President of the National Assembly from 1993 to 1997 and President of the Cour des Comptes of France from 2004 to 2010....
and disputed Chirac's leadership. In 1992, he called a vote against the ratification of 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...
.
He became Interior Minister again from 1993 to 1995, and supported the candidacy of Edouard 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...
at the 1995 presidential election
French presidential election, 1995
Presidential elections took place in France on 23 April and 7 May 1995, to elect the fifth president of the Fifth Republic.The incumbent Socialist president, François Mitterrand, did not stand for a third term. He was 78, had cancer, and his party had lost the previous legislative election in a...
. He is mostly remembered for having pushed a series of anti-immigration laws (lois Pasqua), and for his declaration "we will terrorize the terrorists." He expelled CIA agents on charges of economic espionage.
Pasqua distanced himself in 1998 from RPR and 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...
, arguing that Chirac was not a true heir of Gaullism
Gaullism
Gaullism is a French political ideology based on the thought and action of Resistance leader then president Charles de Gaulle.-Foreign policy:...
. He then headed the Rally for France (RPF), a sovereignist (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...
) party, for a while in association with Philippe de Villiers
Philippe de Villiers
Viscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintignon, known as Philippe de Villiers, born on 25 March 1949, is a French politician. He was the Mouvement pour la France nominee for the French presidential election of 2007. He received 2.23% of the vote, putting him in sixth place. As only the top...
. At the 1999 European Parliament election, their list got ahead of the RPR list. However, his alliance with de Villiers split.
In 2002 he ran for president, but dropped out after allegedly failing to obtain the 500 representatives' signatures needed to enter the race. Many suspect that he decided not to run because Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen is a French far right-wing and nationalist politician who is founder and former president of the Front National party. Le Pen has run for the French presidency five times, most notably in 2002, when in a surprise upset he came second, polling more votes in the first round than...
's presence in the election did not leave him enough political space.
In 2003 he was elected a deputy to the European parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. In 2004, he was elected senator
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
by an electoral college
Electoral college
An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to a particular office. Often these represent different organizations or entities, with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way...
. Many commentators alleged that this senate position, granting parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
, was motivated by prosecution closing on Pasqua with respect to corruption practices
Corruption scandals in the Paris region
In the 1980s and 1990s there were, in the Paris region , multiple instances of alleged and proved political corruption cases, as well as cases of abuse of public money and resources...
in the Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
département.
Charles Pasqua did not run in the 2007 presidential election.
Corruption scandals
He was named in corruption scandals concerning the public housing projects of the Hauts-de-Seine.In 2004 his name appeared on the list, published by al Mada, of people who allegedly received corruption money from Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's government in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
during the course of the Oil-for-Food Program.
Following the publication of the Al Mada article, a US Senate report accused him, along with the British Respect
RESPECT The Unity Coalition
Respect is a socialist political party in England and Wales founded in 2004. Its name is a contrived acronym standing for Respect, Equality, Socialism, Peace, Environmentalism, Community and Trade Unionism.-Policies:...
MP, George Galloway
George Galloway
George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
, of receiving the right to buy oil under the UN's oil-for-food scheme. Pasqua denied the charges and pointed out that he never met Saddam Hussein, never been to Iraq and never cultivated any political ties with that country. In a lengthy written rebuttal to the Senate report, Charles Pasqua pointed out further that since the oil vouchers were lifted by a legal entity incorporated in a European country, it should be relatively easy for investigators to uncover the masterminds behind the fraud instead of making accusations based on "sensational" press articles.
The investigations
Justice in France
In France, judges are considered civil servants exercising one of the sovereign powers of the state, and, accordingly, only French citizens are eligible for judgeship. France's independent judiciary enjoys special statutory protection from the executive branch...
concerning the Annemasse casino affair and the move to Saint-Ouen
Saint-Ouen
-France:Saint-Ouen is the name of several communes in France:* Saint-Ouen, Charente-Maritime, in the Charente-Maritime département* Saint-Ouen, Loir-et-Cher, in the Loir-et-Cher département* Saint-Ouen, Somme, in the Somme département...
of the headquarter of GEC-Alstom's transport subsidiary were closed in February 2007. In the first affair, which dates back to 1994 while he was Interior Minister of Edouard 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...
, Pasqua was suspected of having delivered an administrative authorization to operate a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
in Annemasse
Annemasse
Annemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
to Robert Feliciaggi in exchange for future political funding. Robert Felliciagi was assassinated in March 2006 in Ajaccio
Ajaccio
Ajaccio , is a commune on the island of Corsica in France. It is the capital and largest city of the region of Corsica and the prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud....
, Corsica. He had resold the casino in 1995, making an important profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
. In the second affair concerning Alstom, Etienne Léandri
Etienne Léandri
Étienne Léandri was an intermediary close to Charles Pasqua. He took part in the negotiations concerning many important international contracts, and represented, among others, the interests of Elf, Thomson CSF and Dumez.-Inventor:...
, a friend of Pasqua's, reportedly received an illegal commission of 5.2 million Francs (790,000 euros).
The Sofremi affair is still under investigation. It concerns monies paid between 1993 to 1995 by the Sofremi, a weapons exporter
Arms industry
The arms industry is a global industry and business which manufactures and sells weapons and military technology and equipment. It comprises government and commercial industry involved in research, development, production, and service of military material, equipment and facilities...
attached the Ministry of Interior, to people close to Pasqua.
Along with André Santini
André Santini
André Santini is a French politician, mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine.A former member of the UDF, he did not support François Bayrou, the candidate of his party for the first round of 2007 French presidential election, choosing instead to support Nicolas Sarkozy.After the election, he...
, Pasqua was also the subject of investigations concerning an affair related to the Jean Hamon donation. A wealthy mecene, Jean Hamon, had donated in 2000 to the department of the Hauts-de-Seine 192 works of art, estimated to be worth 192 millions euros. The Hauts-de-Seine, then led by Pasqua, was supposed to create a museum for them in Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...
, but the project was abandoned. An investigation was opened in 2003 when a judge based in Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
asked herself why the Hauts-de-Seine department had paid for the care of these works of art, for a total amount of 800,000 euros, while they were still stored in a castle owned by the billionaire. Since the department continued to pay for a year after Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
's take-over of the department's general council, the affair may also involve him. Sarkozy won 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...
as the UMP candidate.
Political career
Governmental functionsMinister of Interior : 1986–1988
Minister of State, minister of Interior and Planning : 1993–1995
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...
: 1999–2004. Elected in 1999.
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
: 1968–1973.
Senate of France
President of the group of the Rally for the Republic : 1981–1986 (Became minister) / 1988–1993 (Became minister).
Senator of Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
: 1977–1986 (Became minister in 1986) / Reelected in 1986, but he stays as minister / 1988–1993 (Became minister in 1993) / 1995–1999 (Became 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...
in 1999) / 2004-2011. Elected in 1977, reelected in 1986, 1988, 1995, 2004.
General Council
General councillor of Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
: 1970–1976 / 1988–2004 (Resignation). Reelected in 1988, 1994, 2001.
President of the General Council of Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
: 1973–1976 / 1988–2004. Reelected in 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2001.
Municipal Council
Municipal councillor of Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
: 1983–2001. Reelected in 1989, 1995.
External links
- Official page as senator
- US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, 12 May 2005, "Report on oil allocations granted to Charles Pasqua & George Galloway"
- Interior Minister Pasqua embodies nation's social divide San Francisco chronicle 21 April 1995 Extract: Pasqua, by contrast, moved from the college of beachcombing to a graduate school degree in peddling booze.