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François Léotard | |
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 Léotard in 2011 | |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 30 March 1993 – 18 May 1995 | |
| President | François Mitterrand |
| Prime Minister | Édouard Balladur |
| Preceded by | Pierre Bérégovoy |
| Succeeded by | Charles Millon |
| Minister of Culture | |
| In office 20 March 1986 – 10 May 1988 | |
| President | François Mitterrand |
| Prime Minister | Jacques Chirac |
| Preceded by | Jack Lang |
| Succeeded by | Jack Lang |
| President of theUnion for French Democracy | |
| In office 31 March 1996 – 16 September 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing |
| Succeeded by | François Bayrou |
| Mayor ofFréjus | |
| In office 1977–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Léon Héritier |
| Succeeded by | Élie Brun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1942-03-26)26 March 1942 |
| Died | 25 April 2023(2023-04-25) (aged 81) |
| Political party | UDF |
| Relatives | Philippe Léotard(brother) |
| Alma mater | Sciences Po,ÉNA |
François Gérard Marie Léotard (French pronunciation:[fʁɑ̃swaʒeʁaʁmaʁileɔtaʁ]; 26 March 1942 – 25 April 2023) was a French politician. Singer and actorPhilippe Léotard was his brother.
A member of theRepublican Party, the liberal-conservative component of theUnion for French Democracy (UDF), he appeared in the foreground of the political scene in the 1980s. He led a new generation of right-wing politicians, the "renovationmen", who opposed the old right-wing leadersJacques Chirac andValéry Giscard d'Estaing.
In 1981, he was selected to be one of the firstYoung Leaders of theFrench-American Foundation.[1] His political career started with being elected as the mayor ofFréjus in 1977. He served two terms as the deputy of Var.[2]
As culture minister from 1986 to 1988,[3] he sold the main public TV channelTF1.[4] He returned to the French cabinet as defense minister, from 1993 to 1995.[3][5] Supporting the candidacy ofEdouard Balladur in the1995 presidential election, he was dismissed after Chirac's election. Elected president of the UDF in 1996, he could not prevent the split of this confederation two years later withAlain Madelin's secession. This and the party's poor showing in the 1998 regional elections prompted his resignation. After a mission inMacedonia in 2001 as representative of theEuropean Union,[6] he retired from politics. In 2003, he created together with other prominent European personalities theMedbridge Strategy Center, whose goal is to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Europe and theMiddle East.[7] He later authored several books.
Léotard died inFréjus on 25 April 2023, at age 81.[8]
Governmental functions
Minister of state, minister of defence : 1993–1995.
Minister of Culture and Communication : 1986–1988.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
Member of theNational Assembly of France forVar : 1978–1986 (Became minister in 1986) / 1988–1993 (Became minister in 1993) / 1995–2001 (Resignation). Elected in 1978, reelected in 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1997.
Regional Council
Regional councillor ofProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur : 1998–2004.
General Council
General councillor of Var : 1979–1988 (Resignation). Reelected in 1985.
Municipal Council
Mayor ofFréjus : 1977–1997 (Resignation). Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995.
Municipal councillor of Fréjus : 1977–1997 (Resignation). Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995.
Political functions
President of theUDF : 1996–1998.
President of theRepublican Party : 1982–1990 / 1995–1997.
Léotard wrote also several books including non-fiction and a couple of novels:[9]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Minister of Defence 1993–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | President of the Union for French Democracy 1996–1998 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
