Rodolphe Thomas
Encyclopedia
Rodolphe Thomas is a French politician and member of the MoDem
.
Born in Falaise, he moved to the new town
of Hérouville-Saint-Clair
in 1966, where his parents opened one of the first stores in the city.
After one term in the municipal council, sitting on the right-wing opposition benches, he won a surprise victory in the traditionally Socialist
town of Hérouville-Saint-Clair
in the 2001 local elections
, mostly due to the division of the left. He became first vice-president of the Agglomeration community of Caen la Mer. In the 2002 legislative election
, he defeated the Socialist incumbent in the Calvados' 2nd constituency
as a Union for French Democracy
(UDF) candidate.
He was politically close to Jean-Louis Borloo
, but also a close supporter of UDF leader François Bayrou
. However, he supported Nicolas Sarkozy
in the second round of the 2007 presidential election
and ran for re-election supported by the Presidential Majority and Bayrou's new party, the MoDem
. He was, however, defeated by Laurence Dumont
(PS).
Following his defeat, he became a closer supporter of Bayrou and ran simultaneously for re-election as Mayor of Hérouville-Saint-Clair in the 2008 municipal elections
but also against a PS incumbent in Caen's 6th canton in the cantonal elections
. He was re-elected Mayor with over 53% of the votes by the first round, and won his cantonal race in Caen-6 in the runoff.
In 2009, he was selected to be the MoDem's candidate in Basse-Normandie
for the 2010 regional elections
.
Democratic Movement (France)
The Democratic Movement , MoDem) is a centrist, social liberal and pro-European French political party that was founded by centrist politician François Bayrou to succeed his Union for French Democracy and to contest the 2007 legislative election, after his strong showing in the 2007 presidential...
.
Born in Falaise, he moved to the new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
of Hérouville-Saint-Clair
Hérouville-Saint-Clair
Hérouville-Saint-Clair is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is a suburb of the city of Caen, and lies adjacent to it in a northeasterly direction, along the west side of the Canal de Caen à la Mer...
in 1966, where his parents opened one of the first stores in the city.
After one term in the municipal council, sitting on the right-wing opposition benches, he won a surprise victory in the traditionally Socialist
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...
town of Hérouville-Saint-Clair
Hérouville-Saint-Clair
Hérouville-Saint-Clair is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.It is a suburb of the city of Caen, and lies adjacent to it in a northeasterly direction, along the west side of the Canal de Caen à la Mer...
in the 2001 local elections
French municipal elections, 2001
Municipal elections were held in France on 11 and 18 March 2001. These elections were marked by a setback for the left and a victory for the right one year before the 2002 presidential election...
, mostly due to the division of the left. He became first vice-president of the Agglomeration community of Caen la Mer. In the 2002 legislative election
French legislative election, 2002
-12th Assembly by Parliamentary Group:...
, he defeated the Socialist incumbent in the Calvados' 2nd constituency
Calvados' 2nd constituency
The 2nd constituency of Calvados is a French legislative constituency in the Calvados département.-2007: -Sources:* Official results of French elections from 1998:...
as a 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) candidate.
He was politically close to Jean-Louis Borloo
Jean-Louis Borloo
Jean-Louis Borloo is a French politician, and was the French Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning between 2007 and 2010.-Professional résumé:Education...
, but also a close supporter of UDF leader François Bayrou
François Bayrou
François Bayrou is a French centrist politician, president of Union for French Democracy since 1998 and was a candidate in the 2002 and 2007 French presidential elections. In the first round, he received 18.6% of the vote, finishing in 3rd place and therefore was eliminated from the race....
. However, he supported 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....
in the second round of 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...
and ran for re-election supported by the Presidential Majority and Bayrou's new party, the MoDem
Democratic Movement (France)
The Democratic Movement , MoDem) is a centrist, social liberal and pro-European French political party that was founded by centrist politician François Bayrou to succeed his Union for French Democracy and to contest the 2007 legislative election, after his strong showing in the 2007 presidential...
. He was, however, defeated by Laurence Dumont
Laurence Dumont
Laurence Dumont is a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the Calvados department, and is a member of the Socialiste, radical, citoyen et divers gauche.-References:...
(PS).
Following his defeat, he became a closer supporter of Bayrou and ran simultaneously for re-election as Mayor of Hérouville-Saint-Clair in the 2008 municipal elections
French municipal elections, 2008
The French municipal elections of 2008 were held on 9 March in that year to elect the municipal councils of France's 36,782 communes...
but also against a PS incumbent in Caen's 6th canton in the cantonal elections
French cantonal elections, 2008
Cantonal elections to elect half the membership of the general councils of France's 100 departments were held on 9 and 16 March 2008. These elections coincided with the municipal elections, in which the left did well.-Electoral system:...
. He was re-elected Mayor with over 53% of the votes by the first round, and won his cantonal race in Caen-6 in the runoff.
In 2009, he was selected to be the MoDem's candidate in Basse-Normandie
Basse-Normandie
Lower Normandy is an administrative region of France. It was created in 1956, when the Normandy region was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy...
for the 2010 regional elections
French regional elections, 2010
Regional elections were held in France on 14 and 21 March 2010. At stake were the presidencies of each of France's 26 régions, which, though they do not have legislative autonomy, manage sizable budgets....
.