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 Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, f ...
between 1947 and 1977 and deputy for
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise () is a former department of France, which encompassed the western, northern and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris. Its prefecture was Versailles and its administrative number was 78. Seine-et-Oise was disbanded in ...
Meknes
Meknes (, ) 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 century by the Almoravid dynasty, Almoravids as a military settlement, Mekne ...
, 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 served as Prime Minister of France under President Charles de Gaulle from 19 ...
baccalauréat
The ''baccalauréat'' (; ), often known in France colloquially as the ''bac'', is a French national academic qualification that students can obtain at the completion of their secondary education (at the end of the ''lycée'') by meeting certain ...
s. After graduating from the Sorbonne with a history degree, Jean-Paul David began his political career in 1935 as chief of staff to Paul Bénazet (in charge of the Senate Air Committee). Paul Anxionnaz then appointed him Secretary-General for Radical Youth for
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise () is a former department of France, which encompassed the western, northern and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris. Its prefecture was Versailles and its administrative number was 78. Seine-et-Oise was disbanded in ...
, in charge of its reorganisation between 1936 and 1939.
When
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
began, he was mobilised as an officer in the 7th Tank Battalion, where he distinguished himself by his courage and conduct. During the Occupation he devoted himself to his transport business, which he had created to further the repatriation of French
prisoners of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...
. He was recognised after the
Liberation of Paris
The liberation of Paris () was a battle that took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the German garrison surrendered the French capital on 25 August 1944. Paris had been occupied by Nazi Germany since the signing of the Armisti ...
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 (, RGR) was an electoral alliance during the French Fourth Republic which contested elections from June 1946 to the 1956 French legislative election. It was composed of the Radical Party, the Independent Radicals, ...
. The Rally of Republican Lefts was badly weakened by defections and in 1960 he joined with Pierre Marcilhacy to create from its remnants the European Liberal Party. This small party was later absorbed into the
Reformist Movement
The Reformist Movement (, , MR) is a liberal French-speaking political party in Belgium, which includes social-liberal and conservative-liberal factions. Stemming from the Belgian Liberal Party founded in 1846, the MR is one of the oldest par ...
in 1973.
In 1950 he acquired fame by founding the
anti-communist
Anti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communist beliefs, groups, and individuals. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, when th ...
Paix et Liberté 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 Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, f ...
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.
Mandats
* Deputy (
Radical
Radical (from Latin: ', root) may refer to:
Politics and ideology Politics
*Classical radicalism, the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and Latin America in the 19th century
*Radical politics ...
, then
Rally of Republican Lefts
The Rally of Republican Lefts (, RGR) was an electoral alliance during the French Fourth Republic which contested elections from June 1946 to the 1956 French legislative election. It was composed of the Radical Party, the Independent Radicals, ...
Seine-et-Oise
Seine-et-Oise () is a former department of France, which encompassed the western, northern and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris. Its prefecture was Versailles and its administrative number was 78. Seine-et-Oise was disbanded in ...
(1946–1962).
* Mayor of
Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie (, often informally called Mantes) is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, f ...
(1947–1977) then Honorary Mayor.
Distinctions
*
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...
*
Croix de Guerre 1939–1945
Croix (French for "cross") may refer to:
Belgium
* Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut
France
* Croix, Nord, in the Nord department
* Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort d ...
*
Order of Ouissam Alaouite
The Order of Ouissam Alaouite () or the Sharifian Order of Al-Alaoui is a military decoration of Morocco which is bestowed by the King of Morocco upon those civilians and military officers who have displayed heroism in combat or have contribute ...
(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, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...