François Bayrou
François René Jean Lucien Bayrou (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃swa bajʁu]; born 25 May 1951) is a French politician who has presided over the Democratic Movement (MoDem) since he founded it in 2007. A centrist, he was a candidate in the 2002, 2007 and 2012 presidential elections. He has also presided over the European Democratic Party (EDP) since 2004.
François Bayrou | |
|---|---|
Bayrou in 2018 | |
| Minister of State, Minister of Justice | |
| In office 17 May 2017 – 19 June 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Édouard Philippe |
| Preceded by | Jean-Jacques Urvoas |
| Succeeded by | Nicole Belloubet |
| Minister of National Education | |
| In office 29 March 1993 – 4 June 1997 | |
| Prime Minister | Édouard Balladur Alain Juppé |
| Preceded by | Jack Lang |
| Succeeded by | Claude Allègre |
| Mayor of Pau | |
| Assumed office 4 April 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Martine Lignières-Cassou |
| President of the Democratic Movement | |
| Assumed office 2 December 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| President of the Union for French Democracy | |
| In office 25 February 1998 – 30 November 2007 | |
| Preceded by | François Léotard |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| President of the European Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office 13 July 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 20 July 1999 – 20 June 2002 | |
| Constituency | France |
| President of the General Council of Pyrénées-Atlantiques | |
| In office 2 April 1992 – 23 March 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Henri Grenet |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Jacques Lasserre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | François René Jean Lucien Bayrou 25 May 1951 Bordères, France |
| Political party | Democratic Movement (2007–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Union for French Democracy (1979–2007) Centre of Social Democrats (1979–1995) Democratic Force (1995–1998) |
| Alma mater | University Bordeaux Montaigne |
| Signature | |
| Website | Official website |
From 1993 to 1997, he was Minister of National Education in three successive governments. He was also a member of the National Assembly for a seat in Pyrénées-Atlantiques from 1986 to 2012 with brief interruptions and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1999 to 2002. He has been Mayor of Pau since 2014.
It was speculated that Bayrou would be a candidate in the 2017 presidential election, but he decided not to run and instead supported Emmanuel Macron, who – after winning the election – named him Minister of State for Justice in the government headed by Édouard Philippe. On 21 June 2017, he resigned from the government amid an investigation into the MoDem's allegedly fraudulent employment of parliamentary assistants, initiated earlier that month.