Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing, de l'Académie française (born February 2, 1926 in Koblenz, Germany) is a French center-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981.

Related Topics:
Académie française - February 2 - 1926 - Koblenz - Germany - French - Center - Right - President - 1974 - 1981

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His tenure as President was marked by his attempts to modernize his country and his office, notably launching such far-reaching infrastucture projects as the high-speed TGV train and France's reliance on nuclear power as its main energy source. However, the economic downturn that followed the end of the "thirty glorious years" after the 1973 energy crisis, the political situation with the unification of the left by François Mitterrand and the rise of up-and-comer Jacques Chirac in the gaullist right, and bad public relations caused his unpopularity to grow at the end of his term, and he failed to secure re-election in 1981.

Related Topics:
TGV - Nuclear power - 1973 energy crisis - François Mitterrand - Jacques Chirac - Gaullist - Public relations

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He is a proponent of the United States of Europe and, having virtually abandoned national politics after his defeat, he became involved with the European Union. He notably chaired the committee that drafted the ill-fated Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. He was elected to the French Academy to the seat that his friend and former President of Senegal Léopold Sédar Senghor held. As former President, he is also entitled to a seat on the Constitutional Council, although he had refused this prerogative until recently.

Related Topics:
United States of Europe - European Union - Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe - Senegal - Léopold Sédar Senghor - Constitutional Council

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