Jean-Pierre Raffarin

Jean-Pierre Raffarin {{audio|Fr-Jean-Pierre_Raffarin.ogg|listen}} (born August 3, 1948) is a French conservative politician and senator of Vienne.

Career

He was born in Poitiers. He studied law at the and later graduated from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris business school.

Related Topics:
Poitiers - Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris

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He was appointed Prime Minister of France by President Jacques Chirac after the latter's re-election as President in the 2002 presidential election.

Related Topics:
Jacques Chirac - 2002 presidential election

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His political policies combined authority and moderate economical liberalism — that is, the support of laissez-faire economic policies. In 2003, he launched the reforms of the public retirement scheme and of decentralization, which led to many strikes. During the summer of 2003, the country experienced an unusual heat wave which caused the death of more than 13,000 people. The perceived late reaction of the government was blamed on his administration. In 2004 he began a reform of the French state-run health-care system.

Related Topics:
Authority - Liberalism - Laissez-faire - Decentralization - Strike - 2003 - Heat wave

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Raffarin's governments were known for their internal quarrels, with various ministers taking opposite positions in public.

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On March 28, 2004, the ruling UMP party suffered an important defeat during the regional elections, with all but one régions out of 22 of mainland France going to the opposition (PS, PCF, Les Verts). This was generally interpreted, including by Raffarin himself in his post-election speech, as "a sign of distrust against the government from the electorate". On March 30, 2004 Jean-Pierre Raffarin tendered the resignation of his government to president Jacques Chirac, who immediately re-appointed him prime minister, with the delegation to form a new government. This major cabinet reshuffle removed some of its most controversial ministers like Luc Ferry (education) or Jean-François Mattei (health).

Related Topics:
March 28 - 2004 - UMP - Regional elections - Régions - PS - PCF - Les Verts - March 30 - Luc Ferry - Jean-François Mattei

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On September 18, 2005, he was elected senator in the Vienne département. Speculation is that we could eventually try to become President of the Senate.

Related Topics:
September 18 - 2005 - President

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International policies

In September 2004 the US conservative blogosphere erupted with criticism of France when a New York Post opinion piece claimed that Le Figaro(( reported that Raffarin said "the Iraqi insurgents are our best allies". There is no trace of this quote in Le Figaro, and the opinion piece is no longer available from the NYP website.

Related Topics:
US - Conservative - Blogosphere - France - New York Post - Le Figaro

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During a state visit to China on 21 April 2005, he avoided opposing the new "anti-secession" law on Taiwan, stating that "The anti-secession law is completely compatible with the position of France" and "The position of France has always been to 'one China' and we will remain attached to this position". On the embargo on weapons, he stated that "France continues to ask for a lifting of the embargo, and does not see what could lead the European Council to change position on that question". http://sg.news.yahoo.com/050423/1/3s3pn.html http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=9677&t=1&c=1

Related Topics:
21 April - "anti-secession" law on Taiwan

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Foreign Affairs being by constitutional convention one of the President's solely responsibilities, it is safe to assume that these remarks were made at President Chirac's demand.

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