François Léotard
François Gérard Marie Léotard (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃swa ʒeʁaʁ maʁi leɔtaʁ]; 26 March 1942 – 25 April 2023) was a French politician. Singer and actor Philippe Léotard was his brother.
François Léotard | |
|---|---|
 Léotard in 2011 | |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 30 March 1993 – 18 May 1995 | |
| President | François Mitterrand |
| Prime Minister | Édouard Balladur |
| Preceded by | Pierre Bérégovoy |
| Succeeded by | Charles Millon |
| Minister of Culture | |
| In office 20 March 1986 – 10 May 1988 | |
| President | François Mitterrand |
| Prime Minister | Jacques Chirac |
| Preceded by | Jack Lang |
| Succeeded by | Jack Lang |
| President of the UDF | |
| In office 1996–1998 | |
| Preceded by | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing |
| Succeeded by | François Bayrou |
| Mayor of Fréjus | |
| In office 1977–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Léon Héritier |
| Succeeded by | Élie Brun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 March 1942 Cannes, France |
| Died | 25 April 2023 (aged 81) Fréjus, France |
| Political party | UDF |
| Relatives | Philippe Léotard (brother) |
| Alma mater | Sciences Po, ÉNA |
A member of the Republican Party, the liberal-conservative component of the Union for French Democracy (UDF), he appeared in the foreground of the political scene in the 1980s. He led a new generation of right-wing politicians, the "renovationmen", who opposed the old right-wing leaders Jacques Chirac and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.
In 1981, he was selected to be one of the first Young Leaders of the French-American Foundation.[1] His political career started with being elected as the mayor of Fréjus in 1977. He served two terms as the deputy of Var.[2]
As culture minister from 1986 to 1988,[3] he sold the main public TV channel TF1.[4] He returned to the French cabinet as defense minister, from 1993 to 1995.[3][5] Supporting the candidacy of Edouard Balladur in the 1995 presidential election, he was dismissed after Chirac's election. Elected president of the UDF in 1996, he could not prevent the split of this confederation two years later with Alain Madelin's secession. This and the party's poor showing in the 1998 regional elections prompted his resignation. After a mission in Macedonia in 2001 as representative of the European Union,[6] he retired from politics. In 2003, he created together with other prominent European personalities the Medbridge Strategy Center, whose goal is to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Europe and the Middle East.[7] He later authored several books.
Political career
Governmental functions
Minister of state, minister of defence : 1993–1995.
Minister of Culture and Communication : 1986–1988.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Var : 1978–1986 (Became minister in 1986) / 1988–1993 (Became minister in 1993) / 1995–2001 (Resignation). Elected in 1978, reelected in 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1997.
Regional Council
Regional councillor of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur : 1998–2004.
General Council
General councillor of Var : 1979–1988 (Resignation). Reelected in 1985.
Municipal Council
Mayor of Fréjus : 1977–1997 (Resignation). Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995.
Municipal councillor of Fréjus : 1977–1997 (Resignation). Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995.
Political functions
President of the UDF : 1996–1998.
President of the Republican Party : 1982–1990 / 1995–1997.
Books
Léotard wrote also several books including non-fiction and a couple of novels:[9]
- Ma liberté (My freedom) published by Plon, 1995
- Pour l'honneur (For honor) published by B. Grasset, 1997
- La Couleur des femmes (The colour of women) published by Grasset & Fasquelle, 2002[10]
- À mon frère qui n'est pas mort (For my brother who is not dead) published by Grasset & Fasquelle, 2003[11]
- La vie mélancolique des méduses(The melancholic life of Jellyfish) published by Grasset & Fasquelle, 2005[12]
- Ça va mal finir (It's going to end badly) published by Grasset & Fasquelle, 2008[13]
References
- "Young Leaders". French-American Foundation. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- "François Léotard: au nom du frère". Gala (in French). Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "Assemblée nationale website". Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- "Video on Ina.fr". Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- "Former general Michel Aoun elected president of Lebanon". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "Comptes rendus de la commission des affaires étrangères: Mardi 23 octobre 2001 (Séance de 16 heures 15)". assemblee-nationale.fr (in French). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- "Founders". Med Bridge. Archived from the original on 12 March 2005. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- Noblecourt, Michel (25 April 2023). "François Léotard, ancien ministre et enfant terrible de la droite, est mort". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- "Best Selling Leotard Francois Books". alibris.com. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "La Couleur Des Femmes". goodreads.com. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "A mon frère qui n'est pas mort". goodreads.com. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- Léotard, François (6 April 2005). La vie mélancolique des méduses. Paris: Grasset & Fasquelle. ISBN 9782246666615.
- "Ça va mal finir". goodreads.com. Retrieved 9 November 2017.