Gaston Monnerville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gaston Monnerville
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| Member of the Constitutional Council | |
| In office 5 March 1974 – 3 March 1983 |
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| Appointed by | Alain Poher |
| President | Roger Frey |
| Preceded by | François Luchaire |
| Succeeded by | Léon Jozeau-Marigné |
| President of the Senate | |
| In office 9 December 1958 – 2 October 1968 |
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| Preceded by | Himself (as President of the Council of Republic) |
| Succeeded by | Alain Poher |
| President of the Council of the Republic | |
| In office 18 March 1947 – 2 October 1958 |
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| Preceded by | Auguste Champetier de Ribes |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as President of the Senate) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 January 1897 Cayenne, French Guiana |
| Died | 7 November 1991 (aged 94) 16th arrondissement of Paris, France |
| Political party | Radical Party |
| Alma mater | University of Toulouse |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Signature | .png) |
Gaston Monnerville (born January 2, 1897, died November 7, 1991) was an important French politician and a lawyer. He was a member of the Radical Party. From 1958 to 1968, he served as the first President of the Senate under the Fifth Republic. Before that, he was President of the Council of the Republic from 1947 to 1958.
Monnerville was part of the French Resistance during World War II. He holds a special place in history as the first black person to lead a national parliament in France.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gaston Monnerville was the grandson of a slave. He grew up in French Guiana, a French territory in South America. He later moved to Toulouse, France, to finish his studies.
He was a very smart student. In 1918, he became a lawyer. He worked with César Campinchi, who later became a powerful politician.
Political and Military Career
Gaston Monnerville joined the Radical Party. In 1932, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for French Guiana. This was like being a representative in the French parliament. He was reelected in 1936. From 1937 to 1938, he worked as the Undersecretary of State for Colonies.
Serving in World War II
During the early part of World War II, Monnerville served in the French Navy. He was on a large warship called the Provence. He continued his service even after France was defeated by Nazi Germany in 1940.
Monnerville spoke out against the agreement France signed with Germany. He also complained about how the French government treated people from its colonies. In late 1940, he joined Combat. This was one of the main groups in the French Resistance, which fought against the German occupation.
As a lawyer in Marseille, he defended people who were arrested or treated unfairly by the government. These people were often targeted because of their beliefs or their background. Because of his actions, the police often threatened or arrested him.
Joining the French Resistance
When Germany took over all of France in 1942, Monnerville went into hiding. He joined the Maquis in Auvergne, a region in central France. He used the code name "Commandant St-Just." In June 1944, he and his wife set up a military hospital to help wounded fighters.
After the war ended, he was appointed to the Provisional Consultative Assembly. This group helped to restart the French government.
Postwar Political Roles
In 1945, Monnerville led a group to decide the future of France's colonies. In October 1945, he was elected to the First Constituent Assembly for the Fourth Republic. He was also elected to the Second Constituent Assembly in 1946. That same year, he represented France at the first meeting of the United Nations.
He later became a member of the Council of the Republic of France, which was like the Senate. He was quickly chosen as its President in March 1947. He was a very active member of this council.
In 1948, he became a Senator for the Lot region in France. He served as Senator and President of the Council until 1958.
Leading the Senate
In 1958, Monnerville supported Charles de Gaulle returning to power. However, he disagreed with De Gaulle's decision to end the Fourth Republic. When the Fifth Republic was created, Monnerville continued his role in the Senate. In 1959, he was elected President of the Senate. This was the second-highest position in France after the President. He held this important role until 1968.
In 1962, Monnerville strongly opposed a plan to change how the French president was elected. He believed the way the change was proposed was against the rules of the constitution. He even used a strong word, forfaiture, to describe the actions of the Prime Minister, Georges Pompidou.
From 1974 to 1983, Monnerville was a member of the Constitutional Council of France. This council makes sure that laws follow the constitution.
Images for kids
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Gaston Monnerville's signature
See also
In Spanish: Gaston Monnerville para niños
