Ernest Lafont
Encyclopedia
Louis-Ernest Lafont was a French
socialist politician. Lafont represented Loire
in the French National Assembly
between 1914 and 1928, and then Hautes-Alpes
between 1928 and 1936. He served as Minister of Public Health 1935-1936. Politically, he was a disciple of Hubert Lagardelle
.
A lawyer by profession from a bourgeois background, Lafont was a graduate of the Ecole des sciences politiques and a lawyer at the Paris Court of Appeals. He obtained a doctorate in Law. He served as the legal attorney of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT).
Inside French Section of the Workers International (SFIO), Lafont belonged to the insurrectionary syndicalist
and anti-parliamentary left. In 1910 he contested the parliamentary elections, but trailed behind the winning candidate by merely 500 votes. In 1912 he became the mayor of the socialist local government in Firminy
. In 1914 he was elected to the French parliament from the Le Chambon-Feugerolles constituency, with 11,256 votes. During this period Lafont was able to mobilize sizeable support from the middle class of Firminy, particularly through campaigns against alcoholism and prostitution.
Lafont was re-elected to parliament in 1919, the sole Guesdist
deputy from Loire
.
Lafont travelled to Petrograd in July 1920, seeking to participate in the second congress of the Communist International. However, he was expelled from Russia
on Trotsky's orders. Lafont had been accused of contacts with the Polish Socialist Party
. Lafont did however become a member of the French Communist Party
in the same year. He was expelled from the party in 1923, due to his links to the League for Human Rights
.
Lafont joined the Socialist-Communist Union
. He was the sole candidate of that party elected in the 1928 French National Assembly election
. In the late 1920s, Lafont was one of the more radical profiles in the League for Human Rights, advocating labour rights and pacifism.
Lafont was named Minister of Public Health in the cabinets of Fernand Bouisson
and Pierre Laval
, formed in 1935. Notably, Laval's first employment had been as the secretary of Lafont whilst Lafont had worked as a lawyer for the CGT. Lafont's cabinet tenures lasted between June 1, 1935 and June 7, 1935 in the Bouisson cabinet and between June 7, 1935 and January 24, 1936 in Laval's government. His participation in the national government led to him being expelled socialist parliamentary group. In 1936, he lost his parliamentary seat to the SFIO candidate Auguste Muret (the mayor of Gap
).
He was married to Zinaida Lafont. Lafont died on May 7, 1946 in the Seventh arrondissement of Paris, at the age of 66.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
socialist politician. Lafont represented Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
in 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 ....
between 1914 and 1928, and then Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes is a department in southeastern France named after the Alps mountain range.- History :Hautes-Alpes is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
between 1928 and 1936. He served as Minister of Public Health 1935-1936. Politically, he was a disciple of Hubert Lagardelle
Hubert Lagardelle
Hubert Lagardelle was a French syndicalist thinker, influenced by Proudhon and Georges Sorel. He gradually moved to the right and served as Minister of Labour in the Vichy regime under Pierre Laval from 1942 to 1943....
.
A lawyer by profession from a bourgeois background, Lafont was a graduate of the Ecole des sciences politiques and a lawyer at the Paris Court of Appeals. He obtained a doctorate in Law. He served as the legal attorney of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT).
Inside French Section of the Workers International (SFIO), Lafont belonged to the insurrectionary syndicalist
Syndicalism
Syndicalism is a type of economic system proposed as a replacement for capitalism and an alternative to state socialism, which uses federations of collectivised trade unions or industrial unions...
and anti-parliamentary left. In 1910 he contested the parliamentary elections, but trailed behind the winning candidate by merely 500 votes. In 1912 he became the mayor of the socialist local government in Firminy
Firminy
Firminy is a commune in the Loire department in central France.It lies on the Ondaine River 8 mi. S.W. of Saint-Étienne by rail.-Sights:Two historic churches from the 12th and 16th centuries are located here...
. In 1914 he was elected to the French parliament from the Le Chambon-Feugerolles constituency, with 11,256 votes. During this period Lafont was able to mobilize sizeable support from the middle class of Firminy, particularly through campaigns against alcoholism and prostitution.
Lafont was re-elected to parliament in 1919, the sole Guesdist
Jules Guesde
Jules Basile Guesde was a French socialist journalist and politician.Guesde was the inspiration for a famous quotation by Karl Marx. Shortly before Marx died in 1883, he wrote a letter to Guesde and Paul Lafargue, both of whom already claimed to represent "Marxist" principles...
deputy from Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
.
Lafont travelled to Petrograd in July 1920, seeking to participate in the second congress of the Communist International. However, he was expelled from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
on Trotsky's orders. Lafont had been accused of contacts with the Polish Socialist Party
Polish Socialist Party
The Polish Socialist Party was one of the most important Polish left-wing political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948...
. Lafont did however become a member of the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
in the same year. He was expelled from the party in 1923, due to his links to the League for Human Rights
Human Rights League (France)
The Human Rights League of France, is a Human Rights NGO founded on 4 June 1898 by the republican Ludovic Trarieux to defend captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew wrongly convicted for treason - this would be known as the Dreyfus Affair...
.
Lafont joined the Socialist-Communist Union
Socialist-Communist Union
The Socialist-Communist Union , later renamed the Socialist-Communist Party , was a socialist political party in France between 1923 and 1932.-Founding:...
. He was the sole candidate of that party elected in the 1928 French National Assembly election
French legislative election, 1928
Legislative elections in France to elect the 14th legislature of the French Third Republic were held on 22 and 29 April 1928.-Popular Vote:-Parliamentary Groups:...
. In the late 1920s, Lafont was one of the more radical profiles in the League for Human Rights, advocating labour rights and pacifism.
Lafont was named Minister of Public Health in the cabinets of Fernand Bouisson
Fernand Bouisson
Fernand Bouisson was a French politician of the Third Republic, who served as President of the Chamber of Deputies from 1927 to 1936 and briefly as Prime Minister in 1935.-Bouisson's Ministry, 1–7 June 1935:...
and Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval was a French politician. He was four times President of the council of ministers of the Third Republic, twice consecutively. Following France's Armistice with Germany in 1940, he served twice in the Vichy Regime as head of government, signing orders permitting the deportation of...
, formed in 1935. Notably, Laval's first employment had been as the secretary of Lafont whilst Lafont had worked as a lawyer for the CGT. Lafont's cabinet tenures lasted between June 1, 1935 and June 7, 1935 in the Bouisson cabinet and between June 7, 1935 and January 24, 1936 in Laval's government. His participation in the national government led to him being expelled socialist parliamentary group. In 1936, he lost his parliamentary seat to the SFIO candidate Auguste Muret (the mayor of Gap
Gap
-General:* Gap , a spacing between large trees in a forest* Gap , a mountain pass, often carved by a river* Gap year, a prolonged period between a life stage-Places:* Gap, Hautes-Alpes, France* Gap, Pennsylvania, United States...
).
He was married to Zinaida Lafont. Lafont died on May 7, 1946 in the Seventh arrondissement of Paris, at the age of 66.