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Alain Peyrefitte
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Alain Peyrefitte, 1964
Minister of Justice
In office
30 March 1977 – 22 May 1981
President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Prime Minister Raymond Barre
Preceded by Olivier Guichard
Succeeded by Maurice Faure
Personal details
Born (1925-08-26)26 August 1925
Najac, France
Died 27 November 1999(1999-11-27) (aged 74)
16th arrondissement of Paris, France
Alma mater École normale supérieure
École nationale d'administration

Alain Peyrefitte (French pronunciation: [alɛ̃ pɛʁfit]; born August 26, 1925 – died November 27, 1999) was an important French scholar and politician. He was a close friend and trusted advisor of Charles de Gaulle, who was a famous French president. Alain Peyrefitte had a long career working for the public. He served as a diplomat in countries like Germany and Poland. He is remembered for his ideas about how to handle the situation in Algeria during the Algerian War.

Peyrefitte served as the Minister of Information from 1962 to 1966. In this role, he helped set up the rules for presidential debates between election rounds. Later, he was the Minister of Justice from 1977 to 1981.

He became a member of the Académie française in 1977. This is a very respected group in France that focuses on the French language and literature.

On December 15, 1986, he survived an attack in front of his house. The driver of his car was killed in the incident.

When he passed away in 1999, he was honored with burial in Les Invalides. This famous place also holds the tomb of Napoleon and other important French leaders.

Alain Peyrefitte's Books

Alain Peyrefitte wrote several important books. Two of his most famous are The Immobile Empire and Quand la Chine s'éveillera… le monde tremblera.

Outside of France, he is probably best known for his book Le Mal français [fr]. This book, translated as The Trouble with France, explores why France has faced certain problems over time. He shared his own observations and experiences as a journalist and government minister. He also looked at French and European history from medieval times to the modern era.

Alain Peyrefitte's Political Journey

Alain Peyrefitte held many important roles in the French government.

Government Roles

  • Secretary of State for Information: April to September 1962.
  • Minister of Returnees: September to November 1962.
  • Minister of Information: 1962 to 1966.
  • Minister of Scientific Research and Atomic Questions and Space: 1966 to 1967.
  • Minister of Education: 1967 to 1968.
  • Minister for Administrative Reforms: 1973 to 1974.
  • Minister of Cultural Affairs and the Environment: March to May 1974.
  • Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice: 1977 to 1981.

Elected Positions

Alain Peyrefitte was elected by the people to represent them in different parts of the government.

National Assembly of France

He was a Member of the National Assembly of France for Seine-et-Marne. He served many terms, starting in 1958 and continuing until 1995. Sometimes, he would be elected but then become a minister, which meant he couldn't serve in the Assembly at the same time.

Senate of France

He became a Senator for Seine-et-Marne in 1995 and served until his death in 1999.

Local Government Roles

  • Vice-president of the General Council of Seine-et-Marne: 1982 to 1988.
  • General Councillor of Seine-et-Marne: 1964 to 1988.
  • Mayor of Provins: 1965 to 1997. He was the mayor of this town for a long time.
  • Municipal Councillor of Provins: 1965 to 1999.

Honors and Awards

Alain Peyrefitte received several awards for his work and contributions.

  •  Monaco : Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit (November 1999). This award recognizes contributions to arts and culture.
  •  France : Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (September 1974). This is another French honor for contributions to the arts and literature.

Alain Peyrefitte's Writings

Here are some of the books Alain Peyrefitte wrote. Most of them are non-fiction.

  • 1946: Rue d'Ulm, chroniques de la vie normalienne
  • 1947: Le Sentiment de confiance
  • 1948: Les Roseaux froissés (a novel)
  • 1949: Le Mythe de Pénélope
  • 1961: Faut-il partager l'Algérie ?
  • 1973: Quand la Chine s'éveillera… le monde tremblera
  • 1976: Le Mal français (The Trouble with France)
  • 1981: Les Chevaux du lac Ladoga - la justice entre les extrêmes
  • 1983: Quand la rose se fanera
  • 1985: Encore un effort, Monsieur le Président
  • 1989: L'Empire immobile ou le choc des mondes (The Immobile Empire, a historic novel)
  • 1990: La Tragédie chinoise
  • 1995: La Société de confiance
  • 1995: Du Miracle en économie (lectures at Collège de France)
  • 1997: La Chine s'est éveillée
  • 1994-2000: C'était de Gaulle

See also

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