Olivier Guichard (; 27 July 1920 – 20 January 2004) was a French politician. He was born in Néac and joined the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

in 1944 and served until the end of World War II, during which, he earned the

Médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' ( en, Military Medal) is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...

and the

Croix de guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first aw ...

. At the end of his life he also was a grand officer of the

Légion d'honneur 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 ...

. In 1947, he joined the gaulliste mouvement. He occupied various local elected offices. He has been a member of parliament and several time minister. From 1969 until 1972, he was Minister of National Education. Between 1972 and 1974, he was

Minister of Public Works This list indicates government departments in various countries dedicated to public works or infrastructure Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facil ...

. And between 1976 and 1977, he was

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in ...

. Between 1967 and 1968, he was a member of the Union pour la nouvelle République, then between 1968 and 1978 he was a member of the

Union of Democrats for the Republic The Union for the Defence of the Republic (french: Union pour la défense de la République), after 1968 renamed Union of Democrats for the Republic (french: Union des Démocrates pour la République), commonly abbreviated UDR, was a Gaullist po ...

and finally from 1978 until 1997 he was a member of the

Rally for the Republic The Rally for the Republic (french: Rassemblement pour la République ; RPR ), was a Gaullism#Political legacy after de Gaulle, Gaullist and Conservatism, conservative List of political parties in France, political party in France. Originating ...

. He died on 20 January 2004 in Paris.

Political career

Governmental functions Minister of Industry : 1967–1968. Minister of Planning and Land Management : 1968–1969. Minister of National Education : 1969–1972. Minister of Equipment, Housing and Tourism : 1972–1974. Minister of State, minister of Land Management, Equipment and Transports : March–May 1974. Minister of State, Keeper of the Seals : 1976–1977. Electoral mandates ''National Assembly of France'' Member of the

National Assembly of France The National Assembly (french: link=no, italics=set, Assemblée nationale; ) is the lower house of the bicameral French Parliament under the Fifth Republic, the upper house being the Senate (). The National Assembly's legislators are known ...

for

Loire-Atlantique Loire-Atlantique (; br, Liger-Atlantel; before 1957: ''Loire-Inférieure'', br, Liger-Izelañ, link=no) is a department in Pays de la Loire on the west coast of France, named after the river Loire and the Atlantic Ocean. It had a population ...

: Elected in 1967, but he became minister / Reelected in 1968, but he stays minister / Reelected in 1973, but he stays minister / 1974–1976 (Became minister) / 1978–1997. Elected in 1967, reelected in 1968, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993. ''Regional Council'' President of the Regional Council of

Pays de la Loire Pays de la Loire (; ; br, Broioù al Liger) is one of the 18 regions of France, in the west of the mainland. It was created in the 1950s to serve as a zone of influence for its capital, Nantes, one of a handful of "balancing metropolises" (). ...

: 1974–1998. Elected in 1986, reelected in 1992. Regional councillor of

: 1974–1998. Elected in 1986, reelected in 1992. ''General Council'' General councillor of

: 1970–1982. Reelected in 1976. ''Municipal Council'' Mayor of Néac : 1962–1971. Reelected in 1965. Municipal councillor of Néac : 1962–1971. Reelected in 1965. Mayor of

La Baule-Escoublac La Baule-Escoublac (; br, Ar Baol-Skoubleg, ), commonly referred to as La Baule, is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department, Pays de la Loire, western France. A century-old seaside resort in southern Brittany with villas, casino, luxury ho ...

: 1971–1995. Reelected in 1977, 1983, 1989. Municipal councillor of