Martine Billard
Encyclopedia
Martine Billard is a French politician and députée, member of the Parti de Gauche
.
Martine Billard entered politics in May 1968 with the "comité d'action lycéen". She studied economics at Paris II-Assas University, and campaigned against far-right movements, which were especially active there.
In the 1970s, she joined the feminist movement and was active in the pro-choice movement, and against right-wing dictatorships in Latin America.
After graduating in economics, she had several small jobs and campaigned with far-left movements, against nuclear energy
and in favour of Palestine against Zionism
in the '80s.
She joined Les Verts
("the Greens"), the French ecologist party, in 1993. Between 1995 and 2001, she held the position of representative of the twentieth arrondissement
on the City Council of Paris. Between 1996 and 1997, she was spokesperson for Les Verts in Paris.
In 1999 and 2000, she was elected to the National Council of Les Verts and became the national spokesperson of the party, and a member of the executive council of Les Verts for economic and social matters.
In 2001, she was a candidate in the elections for the first arrondissement and was defeated by a large margin.
As a candidate of the Gauche unie ("United Left"), she was elected on 16 June 2002 for the twelfth term (2002–07) in the first circonscription of Paris, defeating Jean-François Legaret, mayor of the first arrondissement (and candidate of the UMP). Her victory came as a surprise since she was elected in one of the wealthiest constituencies of Paris, usually a stronghold of the Right. As a matter of fact, she was defeated by a large margin in the first and fourth arrondissements, which have a conservative or liberal majority, but compensated with the left-leaning middle classes of the second and third arrondissements (the so-called "bourgeois bohemians").
In April 2005, she condemned, as "twin brothers" within Les Verts the "small group of hysterics of the Arab cause" and the Hysterics of the Jewish Defence League".
During the referendum
on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
, she advocated opposing the Treaty, against the position of her party. Her constituency eventually voted massively in favour of the Treaty.
In 2005 and 2006, she worked on the DADVSI
law project, trying to influence it toward more friendliness for Internet users.
On 8 July 2009 she left the Greens
and in December 2009 joined the Left Party
.
Left Party (France)
The Left Party is a French democratic socialist political party. It seeks to emulate the German political party Die Linke led by Gesine Lötzsch and Klaus Ernst.- History :...
.
Martine Billard entered politics in May 1968 with the "comité d'action lycéen". She studied economics at Paris II-Assas University, and campaigned against far-right movements, which were especially active there.
In the 1970s, she joined the feminist movement and was active in the pro-choice movement, and against right-wing dictatorships in Latin America.
After graduating in economics, she had several small jobs and campaigned with far-left movements, against nuclear energy
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
and in favour of Palestine against Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
in the '80s.
She joined Les Verts
The Greens (France)
The Greens were a Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France. They had officially been in existence since 1984, but their spiritual roots could be traced as far back as René Dumont’s candidacy for the presidency in 1974...
("the Greens"), the French ecologist party, in 1993. Between 1995 and 2001, she held the position of representative of the twentieth arrondissement
Arrondissement
Arrondissement is any of various administrative divisions of France, certain other Francophone countries, and the Netherlands.-France:The 101 French departments are divided into 342 arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts. The capital of an arrondissement is called a...
on the City Council of Paris. Between 1996 and 1997, she was spokesperson for Les Verts in Paris.
In 1999 and 2000, she was elected to the National Council of Les Verts and became the national spokesperson of the party, and a member of the executive council of Les Verts for economic and social matters.
In 2001, she was a candidate in the elections for the first arrondissement and was defeated by a large margin.
As a candidate of the Gauche unie ("United Left"), she was elected on 16 June 2002 for the twelfth term (2002–07) in the first circonscription of Paris, defeating Jean-François Legaret, mayor of the first arrondissement (and candidate of the UMP). Her victory came as a surprise since she was elected in one of the wealthiest constituencies of Paris, usually a stronghold of the Right. As a matter of fact, she was defeated by a large margin in the first and fourth arrondissements, which have a conservative or liberal majority, but compensated with the left-leaning middle classes of the second and third arrondissements (the so-called "bourgeois bohemians").
In April 2005, she condemned, as "twin brothers" within Les Verts the "small group of hysterics of the Arab cause" and the Hysterics of the Jewish Defence League".
During the referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe , , was an unratified international treaty intended to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union...
, she advocated opposing the Treaty, against the position of her party. Her constituency eventually voted massively in favour of the Treaty.
In 2005 and 2006, she worked on the DADVSI
DADVSI
DADVSI is the abbreviation of the French Loi sur le Droit d’Auteur et les Droits Voisins dans la Société de l’Information...
law project, trying to influence it toward more friendliness for Internet users.
On 8 July 2009 she left the Greens
The Greens (France)
The Greens were a Green political party to the centre-left of the political spectrum in France. They had officially been in existence since 1984, but their spiritual roots could be traced as far back as René Dumont’s candidacy for the presidency in 1974...
and in December 2009 joined the Left Party
Left Party (France)
The Left Party is a French democratic socialist political party. It seeks to emulate the German political party Die Linke led by Gesine Lötzsch and Klaus Ernst.- History :...
.
Offices held
- 1995-06-19 – 2001-03-18: Member of the City Council of Paris