Asenator for life (French:sénateur inamovible) was an elected position under theFrench Third Republic, similar to that ofsenator for life in other countries. At one time theFrench Senate was composed of 300 members, of whom 75 wereinamovible ("unremovable").
Under the law of 24 February 1875 on the organization of the Senate, there were 300 members of whom 225 were elected by the departments and colonies, and 75 were elected by the National Assembly. The 75 were elected by list and by an absolute majority of votes, and were irremovable, like the members of theChamber of Peers under theBourbon Restoration and theJuly Monarchy.
If a senator for life died or resigned, the Senate would elect a replacement within two months.[1]By the law of 10 December 1884 appointment of immovable senators ceased and the immovable senators gradually disappeared.[1]Émile Deshayes de Marcère, the last survivingsénateur inamovible, died in 1918.[1] Overall there were 116 lifetime senators.[2] The first 75 had been appointed by the National Assembly and the remaining 41 by the Senate itself.[1]
Notable immovable senators includedGaston Audiffret-Pasquier, first president of the Senate; the scientistMarcellin Berthelot, who became minister of public education and then minister of foreign affairs; MonseigneurDupanloup;Albert Grévy, the younger brother of PresidentJules Grévy;Louis Martel, elected President of the Senate in 1879;Philippe Le Royer, elected President of the Senate in 1882;Auguste Scheurer-Kestner, the defender ofAlfred Dreyfus; the abolitionistVictor Schœlcher and the statesmanHenri-Alexandre Wallon.[1]
In 2005, there was questioning about the status of formerPresidents of the Republic. According to the constitution of theFifth Republic, former presidents arede jure members of theConstitutional Council, which poses a problem of possible partiality. Some members of Parliament and commentators suggested that it should be replaced by a life membership in theSenate.[3][a] This proposal was, however, not enacted.
The senators for life were:[2]
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