Jacques Mézard (born 3 December 1947) is a French lawyer and politician of the

Radical Party of the Left The Radical Party of the Left (french: Parti radical de gauche, PRG) is a social-liberal political party in France. A party in the Radical tradition, since 1972 the PRG was a close ally of the major party of the centre-left in France, the S ...

who has been serving as a member of the Constitutional Council since 2019. He previously served as Minister of Agriculture and Food in 2017 and Minister of Territorial Cohesion from 2017 to 2018. A member of the

(PRG), he was a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the e ...

representing the

Cantal Cantal (; oc, Cantal or ) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, with its prefecture in Aurillac. Its other principal towns are Saint-Flour (the episcopal see) and Mauriac; its residents are known as Cantalians ( ...

department from 2008 to 2017 and again from 2018 until 2019.

Early life

Jacques Mézard was born in

Aurillac Aurillac (; oc, Orlhac ) is the prefecture of the Cantal department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Aurillacois'' or ''Aurillacoises''. Geography Aurillac is at above sea le ...

.Senate webpage
/ref>Official website: Biography
/ref> He graduated from Panthéon-Assas University in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

, where he received a law degree.

Career

From 1971 to 1976, he worked as a lawyer in Paris and taught law at the Pantheon-Sorbonne University. Additionally, he served as Vice President of Pantheon-Sorbonne University from 1970 to 1975. From 1977 to 2009, he worked as a lawyer in Aurillac. He served as Deputy Mayor of Aurillac from 1982 to 1993. He also served as a member of the General Council of Cantal from 1994 to 2008. After the 2008 Senate election, he was installed as a Senator for Cantal. He was reelected in

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

. In 2011, he was chosen as President of the

European Democratic and Social Rally group The European Democratic and Social Rally group (french: groupe du Rassemblement démocratique et social européen, abbreviated RDSE), formerly the Democratic and European Rally group (french: groupe du Rassemblement démocratique et européen), is ...

. On 17 May 2017, Mézard was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Food in the

First Philippe government The first Philippe government (French language, French: ''Gouvernement Édouard Philippe I'') was the fortieth government of the French Fifth Republic. It was the first government formed by Édouard Philippe under President Emmanuel Macron, prior ...

. On 21 June 2017, he was appointed Minister of Territorial Cohesion in the

Second Philippe Government The second Philippe government (French: ''Gouvernement Édouard Philippe II'') was the forty-first government of the French Fifth Republic. It was the second government formed by Édouard Philippe under President Emmanuel Macron, following the 2 ...

, replacing

Richard Ferrand Richard Ferrand (; born 1 July 1962) is a French politician of La République En Marche! (LREM) who served as President of the National Assembly from 2018 to 2022. He had served as a member of the National Assembly for Finistère's 6th consti ...

. He left his position on 16 October 2018 to return to the Senate. On 11 March 2019, he was sworn in as a member of the Constitutional Council, following his appointment by President

Emmanuel Macron Emmanuel Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France since 2017 French presidential election, 2017. ''Ex officio'', he is also one of the two Co-Princes of Andorra. Prior to his presidency, M ...

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Mezard, Jacques 1947 births Living people People from Aurillac Politicians from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Radical Party of the Left politicians Radical Movement politicians French Ministers of Agriculture French Senators of the Fifth Republic Senators of Cantal 20th-century French lawyers Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas University alumni Academic staff of the University of Paris Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite