Union Nationale Inter-universitaire
Encyclopedia
Union Nationale Interuniversitaire (UNI) or "Inter-University Union" is a French right-wing union of university
students, created in February 1969 under the initiative of the Service d'Action Civique
, a secret service used by the right-wing gaullist movement, in particular by Robert Pandraud, Charles Pasqua
and Jacques Foccart
, which was dissolved in 1982 by the socialist government.
, affirmative action
and cannabis legalization.
It received $575,000 between April 1984 and April 1985 from the government of the United States through the National Endowment for Democracy
and was also supported by Irving Brown
, leader of the international relations of the AFL-CIO
and a CIA contractee.
Starting from 1995, UNI has supported president
Jacques Chirac
against the French Socialist Party. Its anti-socialist position pushed the UNI to get closer to the RPR and now to the UMP, the main French right-wing party. Some of its members also belong to the Movement for France
, a more traditionalist conservative political party. UNI activists often participate to UMP rallies even though the two organizations do remain independent.
During the 2005 French European Constitution referendum, the union was strongly divided between eurosceptic
and pro-European activists. The UNI finally decided to campaign in favour of the European Constitution. This decision pushed the more eurosceptic members out of the union leeding to the creation of a new right-wing student union, more nationalist and traditionalist, the Rassemblement des Etudiants de Droite (Rally of the Right-wing Students). In the 2007 French Presidential election
, the UNI has strongly supported the conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy
even though some of its members preferred campaigning for the catholic traditionalist, eurosceptic and anti-immigration candidate, Philippe de Villiers
.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
students, created in February 1969 under the initiative of 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...
, a secret service used by the right-wing gaullist movement, in particular by Robert Pandraud, Charles Pasqua
Charles Pasqua
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...
and 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...
, which was dissolved in 1982 by the socialist government.
History
The UNI was founded in order to expand the conservative and the right-wing influence in the French university after the May 1968 events. The Inter-University Union has always been strongly anti-communist and anti-socialist opposing the numerous left-wing student groups that exist in the French universities. Since its foundation, the UNI claims to be a movement of activists, activism being the main mission of the organization along with the participation to the elections of the students' representatives within the French universities. The union also uses to position itself within the national political debate strongly opposing same-sex marriageSame-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
, affirmative action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
and cannabis legalization.
National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, is a U.S. non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 to promote US-friendly democracy by providing cash grants funded primarily through an annual allocation from the U.S. Congress...
and was also supported by Irving Brown
Irving Brown
Irving Brown was an American trade-unionist, member of the American Federation of Labor and then of the AFL-CIO, who played an important role in Western Europe and in Africa, during the Cold War, in supporting splits among trade-unions in order to counter Communist influence...
, leader of the international relations of the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and a CIA contractee.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
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...
against the French Socialist Party. Its anti-socialist position pushed the UNI to get closer to the RPR and now to the UMP, the main French right-wing party. Some of its members also belong to the 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...
, a more traditionalist conservative political party. UNI activists often participate to UMP rallies even though the two organizations do remain independent.
During the 2005 French European Constitution referendum, the union was strongly divided between 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...
and pro-European activists. The UNI finally decided to campaign in favour of the European Constitution. This decision pushed the more eurosceptic members out of the union leeding to the creation of a new right-wing student union, more nationalist and traditionalist, the Rassemblement des Etudiants de Droite (Rally of the Right-wing Students). In the 2007 French 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...
, the UNI has strongly supported the conservative candidate 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....
even though some of its members preferred campaigning for the catholic traditionalist, eurosceptic and anti-immigration candidate, 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...
.
Famous former members of the UNI
- President Nicolas SarkozyNicolas SarkozyNicolas 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....
and Prime Minister François FillonFrançois FillonFrançois Charles Armand Fillon is the Prime Minister of France. He was appointed to that office by President Nicolas Sarkozy on 17 May 2007. He served initially until 13 November 2010 when he resigned from being prime minister before a planned cabinet reshuffle.On 14 November 2010, Sarkozy...
were both members of the UNI when they were studying at the university. - Michèle Alliot-MarieMichèle Alliot-MarieMichèle Jeanne Honorine Alliot-Marie, born 10 September 1946 and nicknamed MAM, is a French politician of the Union for a Popular Movement . A member of all but one right-wing governments of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, she was the first woman in France to hold the portfolios of Defense , the...
, Jean-François CopéJean-François CopéJean-François Copé , is a French politician. He is currently Mayor of Meaux, Deputy for the 6th constituency of Seine-et-Marne, and acts as President of the Union for a Popular Movement Group in the French National Assembly...
, Roger KaroutchiRoger KaroutchiRoger Karoutchi is the French Ambassador to the OECD. He is a former Secretary of State to the French Prime Minister, with responsibility for Relations with Parliament.-Early life:...
, Éric RaoultÉric RaoultÉric Raoult is a French right-wing politician, currently affiliated to the Union for a Popular Movement.- Political career :...
, Renaud MuselierRenaud MuselierRenaud Muselier, born May 6, 1959, is a French politician. His political mandates include:* 1992, puis 1993 - 1995 : Conseiller général of the département of Bouches-du-Rhône* 1993 - : Député of Bouches-du-Rhône...
, Laurent WauquiezLaurent WauquiezLaurent Wauquiez is a French politician and the current Secretary of State for European Affairs under the Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Alain Juppé....
, Christian JacobChristian Jacob (French politician)Christian Jacob was the Minister of French Civil Service in Jacques Chirac's second term as President of France...
, Christian VannesteChristian VannesteChristian Vanneste , is a French politician.-Career:A member of the French Parliament, he was elected in the 10th constituency of Nord...
, Bernard DebréBernard DebréBernard Debré is French urologist at Hôpital Cochin in Paris and a member of the National Assembly of France. He's one of the representants of the city of Paris, and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement. He is a son of Michel Debré and twin-brother of Jean-Louis Debré.-References:...
, Jean-Paul DelevoyeJean-Paul DelevoyeJean-Paul Delevoye is a French politician.-Political career:After having worked in the food industry, he began his political career as a village councilman in 1974...
and Xavier BertrandXavier BertrandXavier Bertrand is a French politician and Minister of Labour, Employment and Health. He was Minister of Health for almost two years in Dominique de Villepin's government under President Jacques Chirac, then Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity in François Fillon's second government...
are also former members of the UNI.