See also: Family Giscard d'Estaing

Valery Giscard d'Estaing , born the February 2nd 1926 with Coblentz in Germany, is a statesman French, 3rd President of the V {{E}} République and 20th President of the Republic of the May 27th 1974 with the May 21st 1981.

Biography

Family and studies

Wire of Edmond Giscard d'Estaing (1894 - 1982), tax inspector, member of the institute, large Officer of the Legion of Honor, postpone small son of a young lady of Estaing (several Giscard family members raised by decree of the Council of State the name of Estaing), and of May Bardoux (1901 - 2003), itself girl of the deputy Jacques Bardoux, and grand-daughter of Agénor Bardoux, Minister for the State education, vice president of the Senate, Valéry Rene Marie Georges Giscard d'Estaing is born with Coblentz, in Germany, the February 2nd 1926, where his/her father was in station in the Rhineland occupied by the French forces. May Bardoux would be downward Bourbons by a natural girl of the king Louis XV and the baroness of Monteyran.

Valery Giscard d'Estaing makes her studies at the Gerson school, then with the Lycée Janson-with-Sailly and the Louis-the-Large college in Paris, and finally with the college Blaise Pascal with Clermont-Ferrand. It takes down its double baccalaureat in philosophy and elementary mathematics at 15 years. It engages at eighteen years in the First army and fights in France and Germany, which is worth to him to be decorated with the Military Cross. After a preparatory class with the Louis-the-Large College, it enters to the Polytechnic school. Its entry with the National school of administration (ENA, promotion Europe) is due to the decree of the July 19th 1948 - at the moment when it completes its schooling at the Polytechnic school - which exempts the polytechnicians to have to pass an entrance examination to the ENA; it leaves there in the “boot” and between to the General inspection Finances in 1952, where it joined his father.

He marries the Wild December 23rd 1952 Anne-Aymone of Brantes. They have four children: Valerie-Anne (1953), Henri (1956), Louis (1958), Jacinte (1960).

Political career

The beginnings (1954-1959)

From June in December 1954, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, then 29 years old, is named assistant editor with the cabinet of the president of the council Edgar Faure. In 1956, it puts of availability of its administration after its access to the delegation of the Puy-de-Dôme, department whose its great-grandfather, Agénor Bardoux, the 19th century and to his grandfather, Jacques Bardoux, at the 20th century, were lontemps the deputies. It is named, the same year, member of the French delegation in XIe session of the General meeting of the United Nations. It finally reaches, in 1958, with the mandate of general adviser of the canton of Rochefort-Mountain, mandate which it exercises until 1974.

Under the presidency of the general de Gaulle (1959-1969)

; The access to the ministerial wallets As of January 1959, Valery Giscard d'Estaing reaches the functions of Secretary of State to Finances and, the January 19th 1962, the general de Gaulle, to president of the Republic names it, on a proposal from the Prime Minister Michel Debré, Minister for Finance and Economic affairs. It preserves this station under the Pompidou government, but it quickly becomes unpopular and, after his difficult re-election of December 1965, the de Gaulle general decides, the January 8th 1966, to replace it by Michel Debré.

; The return to the tax inspectorate Valery Giscard d'Estaing reinstates the General inspection of Finances of 1966 to 1967 and is made elect with the town hall of Chamalières. Giscard founds then the National federation of the independent republicans while proclaiming: “We are the center and European element of the majority”; for this reason it supports in 1969 the candidature of the Great Britain for adhesion the European Economic community. It chairs then the committee of supply, general economy and plan of the National Assembly.

; The presidential campaign of 1969 Its attitude towards president de Gaulle becomes increasingly critical; he speaks in particular about the “solitary exercise of the capacity” and theorizes his critical support, the “  yes, mais  ”. He invites to vote not with the Référendum April 27th 1969, which involves the departure of the de Gaulle general. At the time of the presidential election which follows the de Gaulle resignation, it leans one moment for the candidature of Antoine Pinay, then joins the April 30th in Georges Pompidou.

With in the chair Georges Pompidou (1969-1974)

Georges Pompidou entrusts to him the ministry for the Economy and Finances in the cabinet Jacques Chaban-Delmas (1969 - 1972), station which it preserves under Pierre Messmer (1972 - 1974). He is, in same time, since 1967, Maire of the common of Chamalières, in the Puy-de-Dôme, function which he ensures until in 1974.

Presidency of the Republic (1974-1981)

Presidential election of 1974: success
After the death of Georges Pompidou, the April 2nd 1974, Valery Giscard d'Estaing presents to the presidential election. Profiting from the support of Jacques Chirac, it eliminates Jacques Chaban-Delmas with the first turn.

Between the two turns, the debate which opposes it to François Mitterrand gives him a decisive advantage, the sentence “You do not have the monopoly of the heart” having marked all the spirits. He is elected of extreme accuracy, with 50,81% of the votes, the May 19th 1974 and becomes the third president of the Fifth Republic, youngest, at the 48 years age.

General considerations over the septennate
Valery Giscard d'Estaing appoints Jacques Chirac Prime Minister, but the relations between the two men are tightened and the second resigns in 1976. He is replaced by Raymond Barre, the “best economist of France” according to the President. Under its impulse important legislative reforms are taken which modify in-depth company: Divorce by mutual assent, legalization of the Abortion, lowering of the lawful age of majority from 21 to 18 years…

The beginning of its presidency is marked by a great will of youth and modernization. It edulcorates some national symbols thus - the blue flag of the French standard is replaced by a blue clearer cobalt, considered to be less aggressive, the Marseillaise is exploited a less strong tone and a slower rate/rhythm -, it gives English interviews, poses in lounge suit for the official photograph, simplifies the protocol of the Elysium and, seeking to appear close to French, multiplies the occasions to be shown at their sides, in particular in dinners in families.

In the industrial field, it engages the modernization of the rail-bound transport while launching the study on TGV.

The septennate of Valery Giscard d'Estaing is marked by the consequences of both oil crises which break the dynamics of the glorious Thirty. In front of the need for saving energy, the government founds in 1975 the change of hour during the summer months, a measurement which allows a saving in electricity by limiting the needs for lighting. It also decides to continue and intensify the development program of civil nuclear energy engaged by its predecessor. This period is also marked by the appearance of the Chômage of mass.

Valery Giscard d'Estaing is, in addition, a fervent supporter of the European Construction: it defends the idea of the the United States d' Europe as of its beginnings in policy. Partisan of a “third way” between supranational Europe and Europe of the States, it creates the European Sommet and helps with the increase in the capacities of the the European Parliament, in particular out of budgetary matter.

Great stages of the septennate
; Government Chirac (May 27th 1974 - August 25th 1976)
  • 1974:
    • Fight plan against inflation, increase of the corporation tax and the high taxpayers, raising of the interest rate of the saving, economies budgetary, energy saving.
    • Resignation of the government of Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber in protest against the beginning of the 8th French nuclear explosion campaign.
    • June 26th: Vote law fixing the civil majority at 18 years.
    • July 3rd: End of the policy of incentive to the Immigration in France.
    • July 16th: The journalist Francoise Giroud becomes it first Secretary of State to the female condition.
  • 1975 :
    • January 17th: Vote law authorizing under certain conditions the abortion called also law Veil.
    • January 31st: Cabinet reshuffle.
    • Beginning of the modernization of the phone network with the tripling of the lines over 7 years.
    • July 11th: Institution of the Divorce by mutual assent.
    • November 15th: First meeting of the 7 the most industrialized countries planet with Rambouillet.
    • the course of the 1 million unemployed is crossed at the end of the year.
  • 1976 :

; Gouvernement Bars (August 27th 1976 - May 12th 1981)

  • 1977:
    • January 31st: Inauguration of the Center Georges-Pompidou in Paris
    • Municipal elections of the 13 and March 20th gained by the left which takes the control of 156 cities of more than: 30000 inhabitants. Jacques Chirac, elected mayor of Paris against Michel d' Ornano, the supported candidate by the giscardiens.
    • March 29th: Cabinet reshuffle.
    • June 27th: The French territory of the Afars and Issas reaches the Indépendance.
    • October 6th: Adoption of the data-processing Law and freedoms against the abusive use of the data-processing name files.
  • 1978 :
    • January 27th: Speech of Verdun-on-the-Doubs, (known as “speech of the good choice”), by which Valery Giscard d'Estaing warns French on the institutional consequences and political blockings that a victory of the left to the legislative elections of March would cause. He declares that he would not resign but would not have the means of preventing a left majority from applying its program.
    • : Foundation of the gathering center UDF and giscardiens in order to support the action of Valery Giscard d'Estaing.
    • Mars: The majority from the right (RPR - UDF) gains the legislative elections.
    • May 19th: The president sends troops parachutists to Kolwezi with the Zaire, in order to release the Westerners taken as an hostage by rebels with the Zairean government.
    • December 5th: Agreement on the European Monetary System (EMS) which establishes system of a stable and adjustable foreign exchange rate between the Member States of the European Economic community.
    • December 6th: Call of Cochin of Jacques Chirac qualifying the UDF and the giscardiens of “party from abroad” for their pro-European standpoint.
  • 1979 :
    • March 13rd: Creation of the ECU, the European Unit of Account
    • June 10th: First elections by the vote for all in the European Parliament. Simone Veil becomes the president about it.
    • October 10th: Beginning of the Business of diamonds. Canard Enchaîné shows the president of the republic to have received Bokassa 1 {{er}}, Empereur deposed of Center Africa of diamonds in gifts at the time of official visits. Canard Enchaîné estimates the value of these diamonds at a million francs. The awkward defense of Giscard will accredit information of the satirical newspaper and will have a negative influence on its re-election campaign.
    • October 30th: The Minister for Labor Robert Boulin, shown by anonymous letters, published by Canard Enchaîné , to have acquired in illegal manner, a scrubland, is found died in a pond of the forest of Rambouillet. The investigation still did not make it possible to arrive at final decisions.
  • 1980 :
    • February 2nd: The former minister Joseph Fontanet is assassinated. The murder remains not elucidated.
    • the country counts with the end of the year more than 1,5 million unemployed.

Presidential election of 1981: the defeat
The April 24th 1981, Valery Giscard d'Estaing arrives at the head of the first turn of the presidential election. Jacques Chirac, arrived third, clearly refuses to invite its partisans to support Valery Giscard d'Estaing vis-a-vis François Mitterrand. It is in particular shown to indirectly support Mitterrand while deciding only with personal capacity in favor of Giscard for the second turn, while between the two turns, the Duck connected publishes documents showing, for the first time, that Maurice Papon, Minister for the Budget under Valery Giscard d'Estaing and the Prime Minister Raymond Barre, was under the Régime of Vichy, as general secretary of the prefecture of the the Gironde to Bordeaux, person in charge of the deportation of Jews. Giscard denounces a political handling, and denies to have known the past of Papon.

François Mitterrand, who had overpowered Valery Giscard d'Estaing of nicknames like “Mister unemployment” or “the man of the liability” in reaction to “the man of passed” or “you do not have the monopoly of the heart” whose Giscard had credited it seven years earlier at the time of the debate televised with presidential with 1974, is elected president of the Republic.

Valery Giscard d'Estaing thus loses the second turn of the election, obtaining only 48,24% of the votes cast.

After the presidency of the Republic…

Constitutional council
Although member of right of the Constitutional council, as a former president of the Republic, it decides into 1981 not to sit there in order to be able to preserve any freedom of speech.

Losing in 2004 the position of president of area which it occupied since March 1986, it decides to give up the active policy to enter to the Constitutional council.

National policy
; Action It directs the Union for the French democracy which it had created in 1978, of 1988 with 1996.

In 1984, VGE is elected appointed UDF of the 2nd district of the Puy-de-Dôme, Valery Giscard d'Estaing indeed centres on her “stronghold” auvergnat while becoming president of the district council in 1986. It fails in 1995 in the conquest of the town hall of Clermont-Ferrand.

Always appointed Puy-de-Dôme he becomes president of the commission of the foreign affairs of the National Assembly of 1987 to 1989. He will take again this function in 1993.

He becomes president of UDF in 1988, station which he keeps until 1995.

He gives up his national ambitions slowly to share his political career between his area and Europe.

Candidate with the regional elections of the 21 and March 28th 2004, leading the list of union UMP - UDF in Auvergne (candidate with the title of the departmental section of the Puy-de-Dôme), it is beaten with the second turn by Pierre-Joël Bonté (PS), carried by the wave which makes rock the near total of the areas on the left.

; Supports He supports the candidature of Raymond Barre for the presidential election of 1988 and rejoins that of his old rival Jacques Chirac, in 1995 like in 2002.

The April 19th 2007, Valery Giscard d'Estaing announces, although being member of the Constitutional council, in a maintenance in the Parisian one/Aujourd'hui in France , its support for Nicolas Sarkozy for the presidential election and thus repudiates Francois Bayrou by showing it to maintain uncertainty, to float in the vacuum enters of the obviously different policies, and to be based on impotent and fragile majorities . The following day, the Constitutional council points out his duty of reserve to him.

European policy
Faithful to Europe, he is president of the international European Mouvement of 1989 to 1997. Moreover, he is made elect appointed European in 1989 on the list of union UDF-RPR.

VGE is elected on October 23rd, 1999 chair Conseil of the Communes and Régions of Europe (CCRE - CEMR). He is re-elected for a three years mandate in Lisbon in October 1998.

In 2001, it received the gold medal of the Foundation Jean Monnet for Europe, and in 2002 the Charlemagne International prize of Aachen.

It is at the origin of a reflection on a project of European organization with an group of expert about the middle of the Années 1990, which will become the project of European Constitutional treaty.

At the time of the European Council of Laeken of December 2001, it is named with the head of the Convention on the future of Europe. The purpose of this convention is to simplify the various European treaties by writing a constitutional treaty draft. Valery Giscard d'Estaing presents the European Constitution thus, the July 15th 2003. Signed by the 25 members of the Union, the treaty is today on standby of ratification (the procedures chief clerks led to “not” in France and in the Netherlands).

Valery Giscard d'Estaings and her brother Olivier Giscard d'Estaing (who was mayor of Estaing (Aveyron) in the Années 1960) bought with the commune of Estaing the Château of Estaing, in the high valley of the Lot, in February 2005. They indicated to want to restore it and open several rooms with the public of them. Valery Giscard d'Estaing specified that it considered “the programming in concerts, meetings and conferences” and also wished “to make a place for personal records of president of European Convention”.

VGE takes share in April and May 2005 in the countryside for “yes” at the time of the referendum in connection with the Constitutional treaty European. It envisages the victory of “yes” with 53% of the voices, but “not” finally carries it with nearly 55%.

Legal affairs
Raymond Barre and are blamed to him in 1984 in the Affaire of the planes breathers (ref. Pierre Péan).

The Argentinian admiral Shine Maria Mendia, ideologist of the “Vols of dead the” at the time of the “Sale war” carried out by the Argentinian Dictature of 1976 à1983), asked in January 2007, during its lawsuit for crimes against the humanity, which is held in Argentina, with Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the former Prime Minister Pierre Messmer, with the ex-ambassadress in Buenos Aires Francoise of the Kid and with all the official ones in place with the embassy of Buenos Aires between 1976 and 1983 to appear before the court as witnesses. Just like, before him, Alfredo Astiz, the “angel of death”, Luis Maria Mendia called indeed upon documentary of the journalist Marie-Monique Robin, entitled “the death squads - the French school”, which showed how France - and in particular the old ones of the Guerre of Algeria -, by a secret military agreement into force of 1959 to 1981, had trained the Argentinian soldiers.

Literature
In addition, Valery Giscard d'Estaing published a novel in 1994 the Passage , short sentimental text telling the adventure of a notary on the return with a young hitch-hiker.

Valery Giscard d'Estaing is elected on December 11th, 2003 with the French Academy with the armchair number 16, left vacant by the death of Léopold Sédar Senghor, obtaining 19 vote out of 34, against two votes with Michel Tack and one with the novelist Olivier Mathieu, said Robert Pioche.

Decorations

  • Large Master of the Legion of honor (1974-1981)
  • Large Cross of the Legion of honor (1974)
  • Grand Cross of the National order of the Merit (1974)
  • Military Cross 1939-1945
  • Baillif Grand Cross of honor and devotion of the sovereign order of Malta (laic members)

Mandates

Mandate of Deputy
  • Appointed Puy-de-Dôme, elected in 1956, re-elected in 1958 and 1962, under the label independent Republican in 1967, 1968 and 1973, then under the UDF label, in 2nd then in the 3rd district, in 1984, 1986 and 1988, resigner in 1989 to sit at the European Parliament, re-elected again appointed in 1993 and 1997, not-candidate with his own succession in 2002
  • President of the commission of the foreign affairs of the National Assembly of 1987 to 1989 then of 1993 with 1997

European deputy

Mandate Buildings
  • General adviser of the canton of Rochefort-Mountain 1958 - 1974
  • City council man of Chamalières 1974 - 1977
  • Since 1967 mayor of the commune of Chamalières, in the Puy-de-Dôme, function which it ensures until in 1974
  • General adviser of the Puy-de-Dôme (canton of Chamalières) 1982 - 1988
  • Chief candidate the municipal election of Clermont-Ferrand in June 1995, elected city council man of opposition, then outgoing

Regional mandate
  • President of the district council of Auvergne 1986 - 2004

President of political party
  • President of the National federation of the republicans independent 1966
  • Founder of the national federation of the republicans and independent 1966 become in 1977 the Republican party
  • President of UDF 1988 - 1996

Anecdotes

  • In 1977, it founds an institute which takes the name of Auguste Count.
  • By two decrees in Council of State of 1922 and 1923 several Giscard family members raised the surname of Estaing, historical patronym which had died out, and was that of their large back mother, the countess of the Melted Tower, born Lucie-Madeleine d' Estaing.,
According to some, the Général de Gaulle would have said, when its young Minister for Finance wanted to launch a loan bearing his name: Giscard d'Estaing, it is indeed a rather pretty name of loan. True or apocryphal book, this anecdote especially appears in a sketch of Thierry the Lad. Giscard d'Estaing current could not become member of very closed the Société of Cincinnati, which gathers the descendants of the officers having fought during the Guerre of American independence, because the vice-admiral Charles Henri d' Estaing who made countryside in Americas with Fayette, was not for them that a distance cousin of another branch.
  • In 1974 Valery Giscard d'Estaing orders from Raymond Depardon a film on its electoral campaign. Carried out it does not like film and remains very a long time in the drawers, impossible to project without the authorization of the former president who opposes it. It ends up leaving in some rooms in 2002, then is diffused on television.
  • Valery Giscard d'Estaing played a central role in the creation of the park with topic on the volcanos Vulcania in its area of Auvergne. It is often caricatured by the humorists on this subject. As anecdote: this last realization is called besides “Giscardoscope” in an important part of the Auvergne area in reference to Futuroscope of Poitiers.
  • In 1997, the post office Togo leaves uses for a block-layer a photograph of a meal of charity which represents Valery Giscard d'Estaing beside the princess Diana. The former president is reproduced on the margin of the layer, the stamp being centered on Diana.

Quotations

  • First of all I always find shocking and wounding to assume the monopoly of the heart. You do not have Mr Mitterrand, the monopoly of the heart! You do not have it… I have a heart as yours which beats at its rate and which is mine.

  • During seven years, France lived in peace, without suffering from serious interior jolts, neither political, nor social. In this day which marks for much the term of great hopes, I know that you are numerous to share my emotion. And in these difficult times, where the evil grinds and strikes in the world, I wish that Providence take care on France, for its happiness, its good and its size. Goodbye. Tuesday May 19th 1981, 20:00

  • “France is a “mini-super power”. ” 1975

  • “With the civilization of mass must succeed a civilization on the scale of the individual. ”

Extract of an intervention in Lyon - April 23rd, 1981
  • “television is the first capacity in France, and not the fourth. ”
Extract of the emission TV Vis-a-vis the 3 - November 7th, 1984

  • “One does not cure the wounds by licking them with a set language. ”

Extract of the newspaper Release - December 10th, 1990
  • “It would not have such an amount of faintness there, if there were not as many amateurs of faintness. ”
  • “No king de France would have been re-elected at the end of seven years. ”
  • “Everyone must be bilingual in a language and in speaking another. ”
Extract of the review the Event of Thursday - April 5th, 1990

  • “we do not let overpower by rheumatisms of the history. ”

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