Quick Facts
Biography
Gérard Longuet (born 21 February 1946 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine) is a French conservative politician. He served as French Defense Minister from 27 February 2011 until 15 May 2012.
Biography
When he was young, he was part of an extreme right-wing movement called Occident. During the early 1990s Longuet was president of the Republican Party and served as Industry Minister until he resigned in 1994.
Before his appointment as Defense Minister, he was the leader of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) in the Senate. Formerly Longuet was a member of the National Assembly of France, Cabinet Minister, and Member of the European Parliament. He became President of the Conseil régional de Lorraine in 1992. In 2002 while he still at this function, Nicolas Sarkozy is Ministre de l'Intérieur and the first operations of the GIR are made at the Haut-du-Lièvre in Nancy.
In 2005 he was found not guilty in a trial over claims that construction companies had paid money to political parties in return for contracts.
In 2008, he compared homosexuality to pedophilia, and he said gay pride parades may lead LGBT teenagers to suicide. He has said he doesn't remember saying it, even though there is footage of it.
Political career
Governmental functions
Minister of Defence and Veterans affairs: 2011-2012.
Minister of Industry, Posts and Telecommunications, and Foreign Trade : 1993–1994 (Resignation).
Minister of Posts and Telecommunications : 1986–1988.
Secretary of State for Posts and Telecommunications : March–August 1986.
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament : 1984–1986 (He became minister in 1986).
Senate of France
President of the UMP Group in the Senate of France : 2009–2011 (Became minister in 2011).
Senator of Meuse : 2001–2011 (Became minister in 2011). Elected in 2001, reelected in 2011 but he stays as minister.
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Meuse (1st constituency) : 1978–1981 / Reelected in 1986 but he became minister / 1988–1993 (Became minister in 1993). Elected in 1978, reelected in 1986, 1988, 1993.
Regional Council
President of the Regional Council of Lorraine (region) : 1992–2004. Reelected in 1998.
Regiona councillor of Lorraine (region) : 1992–2010 (Resignation). Reelected in 1998, 2004, 2010.
General council
Vice-president of the General council of Meuse : 1982–1986.
General councillor of Meuse : 1979–1992 / 1998–2001 (Resignation). Reelected in 1985, 1998.
Municipal council
Municipal councillor of Bar-le-Duc : 1983–1989.
Political functions
President of the Republican Party (France) : 1990–1995.