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François Gerard Marie Léotard (born March 26, 1942, Cannes) is a retired French politician. He is the brother of singer/actor Philippe Léotard.
Member of the Republican Party, the liberal-conservative component of the Union 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 to the old right-wing leaders Jacques Chirac and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.
Culture Minister, from 1986 to 1988, he sold the main public TV chanel TF1. He returned in the cabinet as Defense Minister, from 1993 to 1995. Supporting the candidacy of Edouard Balladur in the 1995 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 with Alain Madelin's secession. This and the party's poor showing in the 1998 regional elections prompted his resignation. After a mission in Macedonia in 2001, he retired from politics.
Political career
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 the National Assembly of France for Var (department) : 1978-1986 (Bacem 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 of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur : 1998-2004.
General Council
General councillor of Var (department) : 1979-1988 (Resignation). Reelected in 1985.
Municipal Council
Mayor of Fréjus : 1977-1997 (Resignation). Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995.
Municipal councillor of Fréjus : 1977-1997 (Resignation). Reelected in 1983, 1989, 1995.
Political functions
President of the Union for French Democracy : 1996-1998.
President of the Republican Party (France) : 1982-1990 / 1995-1997.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jack Lang |
Minister of Culture 1986-1988 |
Succeeded by Jack Lang |
| Preceded by Pierre Bérégovoy |
Minister of Defence 1993-1995 |
Succeeded by Charles Millon |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing |
President of the Union for French Democracy 1996-1998 |
Succeeded by François Bayrou |
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