Jean-Paul David, (14 December 1912 – 31 July 2007), was a French politician. He was mayor of
Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie (, often informally called Mantes) is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, from the centre of the capital. Mantes-la-Jolie is a subprefe ...
between 1947 and 1977 and deputy for
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise () was the former department of France encompassing the western, northern and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris.Yvelines
Yvelines () is a department in the western part of the Île-de-France region in Northern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,448,207.Ernest-Henri David ( municipal councillor in the
administration of Paris
As the capital of France, Paris is the seat of France's national government. For the executive, the two chief officers each have their own official residences, which also serve as their offices. The President of France resides at the Élysée Pala ...
), he spent his childhood and early adolescence in
Meknes
Meknes ( ar, مكناس, maknās, ; ber, ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ, amknas; french: Meknès) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom. Founded in the 11th c ...
, where his father was assigned as an engineering officer. After attending primary school and the Lycée Poeymireau in Meknes, he was sent away to complete his secondary education in Paris. Boarding at the Louis-le-Grand, he rubbed shoulders with
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou ( , ; 5 July 19112 April 1974) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1969 until his death in 1974. He previously was Prime Minister of France of President Charles de Gaulle from 1962 to 196 ...
and Senghor, and was awarded his two baccalauréats. After graduating from the
Sorbonne
Sorbonne may refer to:
* Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities.
*the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970)
*one of its components or linked institution, ...
with a history degree, Jean-Paul David began his political career in 1935 as chief of staff to
Paul Bénazet
Paul may refer to:
*Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name)
* Paul (surname), a list of people
People
Christianity
*Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...
(in charge of the Senate Air Committee). Paul Anxionnaz then appointed him Secretary-General for Radical Youth for
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise () was the former department of France encompassing the western, northern and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris.World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
began, he was mobilised as an officer in the 7th Tank Battalion, where he distinguished himself by his courage and conduct. During the
Occupation
Occupation commonly refers to:
*Occupation (human activity), or job, one's role in society, often a regular activity performed for payment
*Occupation (protest), political demonstration by holding public or symbolic spaces
*Military occupation, th ...
Political career under the Fourth and Fifth Republics
Jean-Paul David was elected Radical Socialist Party deputy for Seine-et-Oise in 1946, a position which he retained until 1962. He was on the right wing of the Radical Socialist Party and later became secretary-general of the
Rally of Republican Lefts
The Rally of Republican Lefts (french: Rassemblement des gauches républicaines, RGR) was an electoral alliance during the French Fourth Republic composed of the Radical Party, the Independent Radicals, the Democratic and Socialist Union of the ...
. The Rally of Republican Lefts was badly weakened by defections and in 1960 he joined with
Pierre Marcilhacy
Pierre Marcilhacy (14 February 1910, Paris – 6 July 1987) was a French lawyer and public figure. His family home in Jarnac dated back over six centuries. He fought in the French Resistance during World War II. It was then that he met his wife Ga ...
to create from its remnants the
European Liberal Party
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
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. This small party was later absorbed into the
Reformist Movement
The Reformist Movement (french: Mouvement Réformateur, MR) is a liberal French-speaking political party in Belgium. MR is traditionally a conservative-liberal party, but it also contains social-liberal factions.
The party is in coalition as ...
in 1973.
In 1950 he acquired fame by founding the anti-communist
Paix et Liberté
Paix et Liberté (, ''Peace and Liberty'') was an anti-communist movement that operated in France during the 1950s.
Founding
In response to the Stockholm Appeal for nuclear disarmament, Jean-Paul David, then Radical Socialist Party deputy mayor ...
movement, which was highly active until 1955 and earned him a regular spot on French national radio.Georges-Henri Soutou, ''La Guerre de cinquante ans. Les relations Est-Ouest 1943–1990'', Fayard 2001,
Jean-Paul David was elected mayor of
Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie (, often informally called Mantes) is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, from the centre of the capital. Mantes-la-Jolie is a subprefe ...
in 1947 for the RGR, and remained mayor for five terms until defeated in 1977, by the Socialist candidate Paul Picard. From 1967 to 1967 he was also president of the Union of Yvelines Mayors.
Jean-Paul David retired from political life in 1977 and he died on 31 July 2007 at the age of 95.
Rally of Republican Lefts
The Rally of Republican Lefts (french: Rassemblement des gauches républicaines, RGR) was an electoral alliance during the French Fourth Republic composed of the Radical Party, the Independent Radicals, the Democratic and Socialist Union of the ...
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise () was the former department of France encompassing the western, northern and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris.Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie (, often informally called Mantes) is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, from the centre of the capital. Mantes-la-Jolie is a subprefe ...
(1947–1977) then Honorary Mayor.
Distinctions
*
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
Order of Ouissam Alaouite
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
(Morocco)
Bibliography
* Eric Duhamel, « Jean-Paul David et le mouvement Paix et Liberté, un anticommunisme radical » in. Jean Delmas et Jean Kessler (dir.), ''Renseignement et propagande pendant la guerre froide, 1947–1953'',
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...