Early Life and Education
– Born in Rabat, Morocco
– Lived in Venezuela for four years
– Spent time in the U.S.
– Graduated from Lycée Français de New York in 1971
– Ancestors added the particle ‘de’ to the family name
Career in Politics
– Rose through the ranks of the French right as one of Chirac’s protégés
– Served as Minister of Foreign Affairs
– Opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq
– Served as Minister of the Interior
– Indicted in connection with the Clearstream affair, but cleared of charges
Ministerial Positions
– Appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by Chirac in 2002
– Obtained backing from the U.S. Secretary of State in his bid to oust Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power in Haiti
– Opposed the U.S. plan to invade Iraq
– Organized a failed rescue mission for Ingrid Betancourt in Colombia
– Gave a speech at the UN opposing the use of force against Saddam Hussein’s regime
– Appointed as interior minister in 2004
– Implemented actions against radical Islam
– Required courses for Muslim clerics in French language, moderate Muslim theology, and French secularism
– Cracked down on radical Muslim clerics, resulting in a political scandal
– Pushed for a change in the law to expel an imam advocating for adulterous people to be whipped or stoned
Prime Minister of France
– Appointed as Prime Minister by Chirac in 2005
– Cabinet focused on curbing unemployment
– Small cabinet with hierarchical unity
– Aimed to restore trust in the government
– Economy was growing sluggishly and unemployment remained high
Clearstream Affair and Presidential Bid
– Accused of withholding information about the fraudulent Clearstream list
– Clearstream affair involved allegations against Nicolas Sarkozy, Villepin’s rival
– Eventually acquitted in the Clearstream trial in 2010
– Speculation of Villepin being a candidate in the 2007 Presidential election
– Villepin formally endorsed Nicolas Sarkozy for President in March 2007 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominique_de_Villepin
Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin (French pronunciation: [dɔminik maʁi fʁɑ̃swa ʁəne ɡaluzo də vilpɛ̃]) is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007 under President Jacques Chirac.
Dominique de Villepin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of France | |
| In office 31 May 2005 – 17 May 2007 | |
| President | Jacques Chirac |
| Preceded by | Jean-Pierre Raffarin |
| Succeeded by | François Fillon |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 31 March 2004 – 31 May 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Jean-Pierre Raffarin |
| Preceded by | Nicolas Sarkozy |
| Succeeded by | Nicolas Sarkozy |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 7 May 2002 – 31 March 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Jean-Pierre Raffarin |
| Preceded by | Hubert Védrine |
| Succeeded by | Michel Barnier |
| Secretary General to the President | |
| In office 17 May 1995 – 6 May 2002 | |
| President | Jacques Chirac |
| Preceded by | Hubert Védrine |
| Succeeded by | Philippe Bas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin 14 November 1953 Rabat, Morocco |
| Nationality | French |
| Political party | République solidaire (2010–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Rally for the Republic (before 2002) Union for a Popular Movement (2002–2010) |
| Spouse | Marie-Laure Le Guay (m. 1985; div. 2011) |
| Children | 3 (including Marie) |
| Relatives | Xavier de Villepin (father) Philippe Le Guay (brother-in-law) |
| Alma mater | Sciences Po École nationale d'administration Panthéon-Assas University Paris Nanterre University |
In his career working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, De Villepin rose through the ranks of the French right as one of Chirac's protégés. He came into the international spotlight as Minister of Foreign Affairs with his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, one year after his appointment to the office, which culminated with a speech to the United Nations. Before his tenure as prime minister, he also served as Minister of the Interior (2004–2005).
After being replaced by François Fillon as prime minister, De Villepin was indicted in connection with the Clearstream affair, but was subsequently cleared of charges of complicity in allowing false accusations to proceed against presidential rival Nicolas Sarkozy regarding bribes paid on a sale of warships to Taiwan. De Villepin enjoyed a modest return to public favour for his public critique of President Sarkozy's style of "imperial rule."
He has written poetry, a book about poetry, and several historical and political essays, along with a study of Napoleon. Villepin is an honorary member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.
