Félix Gaillard

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Félix Gaillard , completely Félix Gaillard d'Aimée (born November 5, 1919 in Paris , † July 10, 1970 off the coast of Jersey ), was a French politician of the Parti radical . He was Prime Minister of France from November 1957 to April 1958 .

Politician

Felix Gaillard was born the son of a wealthy mining director in Paris. Here he also attended high school. After graduating from high school, he began studying law and economics at the Sorbonne in Paris. While still a student, he joined the Resistance in 1940 during World War II and became a confidante of Alexandre Parodi (1901–1979). Here he worked until France was liberated from German occupation as secretary of the illegal management committee and member of the finance committee of the Resistance.

Félix Gaillard graduated with distinction in 1943 in the field of financial economics. As early as 1945 he was called upon by the then head of cabinet of the French government Jean Monnet (1888–1979) to draw up the first five-year plan for the modernization of French industry. In addition, he had been politically active at Jean Monnet's side from 1944 and worked for several years as his cabinet chief. He took part in the 1946 elections to the National Assembly as a candidate in the Charente department and was a member of the Parti radical in the National Assembly . He kept the seat until the end of his life. During this legislative period he was included in the government of G. Robert Schuman as Undersecretary for Economic Affairs. From 1947 he belonged to several governments of the IV Republic as State Secretary for financial and economic questions. In 1949 he was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe . And since the early 1950s he advocated the use of atomic energy .

As head of the French delegation during the negotiations on the common market and EURATOM in 1955, Félix Gaillard was able to exert a significant influence on the future economic relations between the members of the European Community. In June 1957 he became finance and economics minister under Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury , who resigned after just 100 days. During this time and also in the subsequent governments, he vigorously advocated clear austerity measures by the French state during the respective budget negotiations. Only when he threatened to resign did he succeed in asserting these positions in active politics. On August 11, 1957, with the approval of the International Monetary Fund, he decreed a 20% devaluation of the franc.

prime minister

From November 6, 1957 to April 15, 1958, Félix Gaillard himself was the youngest Prime Minister to date at the head of one of the short-lived French governments of the Fourth Republic. The difficult government formation had taken 35 days. But in contrast to his two predecessors, Pinay and Mollet, who were tasked with forming the government, he managed to put together a viable government team and win a majority. With 337 votes against 173 votes he was then granted the investiture. After taking office, he announced drastic measures to improve the economic and financial sectors. But just like his predecessors, he did not succeed in using it to achieve workable reforms for improving the economic and social structure. In addition, his term of office, like that of his predecessors and successors, was overshadowed by the Algerian war. The air raid on the Tunisian village of Sakiet Sidi Youssef on February 8, 1958, caused a great stir internationally. This put him in great distress and also triggered a political crisis in France. After this incident he was forced to accept mediation by the USA and Great Britain in the Algerian war. The tripartite meeting took place shortly afterwards in Gaillard's private house in Barbezieux .

Both cost Félix Gaillard the support of some MPs and the public, so that he resigned on April 15, 1958. When his successor Pierre Pflimlin was to be confirmed by parliament on May 13, 1958 , the coup had just taken place in Algiers . As head of government, Gaillard commissioned General Raoul Salan to restore order. In the following years he spoke out in favor of Charles de Gaulle's return to power, which was carried out until the end of 1958.

Last years

From 1958 to 1961 Félix Gaillard was still party leader of the Radical Socialists.

Personal life

In 1956, during his political upturn, he married the widow of former minister Raymond Patenôtre, Dolorès born. Delépine. She brought two children from her first marriage into the family and they subsequently had three daughters and a son of their own.

In July 1970 Félix Gaillard had an accident with the yacht “Marie Grillon” and three other companions on a boat tour on the English Channel near Jersey . On July 13, 1970, his body was recovered by a lifeboat south of Jersey. Examination of the charred wreckage of the yacht led to the conclusion that an explosion had taken place on board, which subsequently set the ship on fire. Gaillard was buried in Lachaise in the Charente department.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ What use is it to be young ?, Der Spiegel issue 12/1958 of March 19, 1958
  2. ↑ Biography about Félix Gaillard, Félix Gaillard , in: Internationales Biographisches Archiv 43/1970 of October 12, 1970, in the Munzinger Archive ( beginning of the article freely available)
predecessor Office successor
Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury Prime Minister of the Fourth Republic
November 5, 1957 - April 15, 1958 		Pierre Pflimlin
Paul Ramadier Minister of Finance of France
June 13, 1957 - November 6, 1957 		Pierre Pflimlin
personal data
SURNAME Gaillard, Felix
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gaillard d'Aimée, Félix (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French politician, member of the National Assembly and Prime Minister
DATE OF BIRTH November 5, 1919
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris
DATE OF DEATH July 10, 1970