Michel Poniatowski

Michel Poniatowski , born the May 16th 1922 with Paris and deceased with Opio (the Alpes-Maritimes), the January 15th 2002, prince Polish, was one of the leaders founders of the independent Républicains. Deputy then senator of the Val-d'Oise, mayor of Isle-Adam, appointed European, founder and honorary president of the UDF, it was “Minister of state, Minister of Interior Department” of the president Valery Giscard d'Estaing of the May 29th 1974 with the March 30th 1977.

Origins

Relative of a King of Poland and prince Joseph Poniatowski, marshal of Napoleon, he is the son of the prince Charles Casimir Poniatowski and from Anne de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay, Michel Poniatowski was born with Paris the May 16th 1922.

He has the effect of being one of the rare descendants at the same time of the Bonaparte family and the empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, but not of the union of these two personalities, which remained sterile, but by other unions.

Studies and career

After having rejoined the free France during the Second world war and to be in particular parachuted in Occupied France, it continues after the war of the higher learning and passes successfully the contest of ENA.

Affected with Finances, Michel Poniatowski begins his career with the Morocco then as financial attache with Washington DC (1956).

In 1958, he is the principal private secretary of Pierre Pflimlin, last President of the Council of the Fourth Republic before the Général de Gaulle; of 1959 with 1962, he is principal private secretary of Valery Giscard d'Estaing, then operations manager (1962-1965) and finally director of the Insurances (1963-1967) to the ministry for Finances.

Political career

In 1967, it is elected appointed republican independent of the Val-d'Oise and general secretary of the Confederation of Independent (whose it assumes the chairmanship in 1975).

In 1971, it is elected mayor of the Isle-Adam.

April 5th 1973 with the May 27th 1974, he is Minister for the Public health and the Social security in the government of Pierre Messmer.

Minister of Interior Department (1974-1977)

Regarded as the principal organizer of the victory of Valery Giscard d'Estaing to the presidential elections of 1974, it is named minister of state, Minister of Interior Department the May 27th, causing a precedent of protocol, the first of the ministers by order of precedence not being then the Minister for Justice, Minister of Justice as before (the title of Minister of state had fallen in disuse).

Vis-a-vis the terrorist threats which weighed then, it took for currency to terrorize the terrorists (formula allotted to Charles Pasqua), with sometimes spectacular means, for example by leaving the bodies in place several hours after a shooting.

It did not make any less remove the profile sheets which were to then be filled each time one remained in a hotel, as it is still the case in certain countries.

In August 1975, it sent the army, supported by armoured tanks, to drive out the Corsican militants taken along by Edmond Simeoni who occupied illegally a wine cellar with Aleria. It ordered the attack during which two gendarmes were killed. For this reason, he was shown, with Jacques Chirac, to carry a great part of responsibility in the spiral of violence which followed in Corsica.

After the assassination of Jean de Broglie, the Express train , in January 1977, then the Duck connected , in 1980, published documents according to which Michel Poniatowski could have saved the deputy giscardien, because it would have been with the current of the death threats weighing on him. The satiric weekly recalled that the late one had been treasurer of the Republicans independent, and dependant on the scandal Matesa, which would have financed this political training. Michel Poniatowski had publicly presented Patrick de Ribemont like culprit in this business of Broglie. An act engraves which was worth in France to be the object thereafter judgment by the European Cour of the human rights, Patrick de Ribemont having been put out of cause.

Shortly after the death of the deputy giscardien and the failure of the majority to the local elections of March 1977, Michel Poniatowski left the ministry for the Interior and did not form any more part of any government.

It took part in 1978 in the foundation of the UDF.

Until 1981, he is ambassador and staff representative of the president of the Republic. Openly rejected by the major part of the French political community, it disappeared completely from the foreground of the political scene, at the national level, after 1981.

Political end of a career

Of 1979 with 1989, it is appointed with the the European Parliament where it chaired the Committee on Development and Cooperation (1979-1984) then the commission of energy, research, and technology (1984). In September 1983, it approves the fusion of the list RPR/UDF with the list National front at the time of the municipal election partial of Dreux: “The fascistic danger in France does not come from the right-hand side, it comes from the left, of which it is the vocation of spirit and method. It is thus necessary to vote against the fascists of left. ”

Senator of the Val-d'Oise of 1989 with 1995, Michel Poniatowski then continued to approve the conclusion of electoral agreements with the National front, by taking the example of socialist alliance between S and communist. Atypical member of the UDF of which it was one of the founders, it is repudiated by his party at the end of 1991, after having supported the concluding of agreements for the regional ones of 1992 and the legislative ones of 1993.

In 1995, it rejoined Edouard Balladur against Jacques Chirac.

In 1998, it took part in the foundation of the Droite liberal-Christian woman of Charles Million.

In 1999, it leaves its town hall of Isle-Adam gained thereafter by his son Axel Poniatowski.

Michel Poniatowski is deceased the January 15th 2002.

Family

Married the February 28th 1946 in the XVI {{E}} district with Gilberte de Chavagnac, the couple had 4 children:

Ladislas Poniatowski born the 11/10/1946 married in 1971 in Constance Guichard, journalist (girl of Olivier Guichard) including 3 children: Pcess Clemence born in 1975; Pce Alexis born in 1978 and Pcesse White born in 1986

Isabelle Poniatowski born the 2/9/1948 married in 1967 Bertrand de Maigret including 4 children

Axel Poniatowski born the 8/3/1951 married in 1977 in Anne Chatin including 3 children: Pce Sebastien born in 1979; Pcesse Margot born in 1981 and Pce Ashley born in 1986

Bruno Poniatowski born the 8/10/1952 married in 1974 in Alix de Montal including 3 children: Pce Julien born in 1978; Romance Pcess born in 1981 and Pce Gari born in 1990

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