Jean-Louis Debré facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean-Louis Debré
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Debré in 2012
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| President of the Constitutional Council | |
| In office 5 March 2007 – 4 March 2016 |
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| Appointed by | Jacques Chirac |
| Preceded by | Pierre Mazeaud |
| Succeeded by | Laurent Fabius |
| President of the National Assembly | |
| In office 25 June 2002 – 2 March 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Raymond Forni |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Ollier |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 18 May 1995 – 4 June 1997 |
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| President | Jacques Chirac |
| Prime Minister | Alain Juppé |
| Preceded by | Charles Pasqua |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Pierre Chevènement |
| Member of the National Assembly for Eure's 1st constituency |
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| In office 1 June 1997 – 5 March 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Françoise Charpentier |
| Succeeded by | Françoise Charpentier |
| In office 2 April 1986 – 18 June 1995 |
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| Succeeded by | Françoise Charpentier |
| Mayor of Évreux | |
| In office 18 March 2001 – 12 March 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Roland Plaisance |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Pierre Nicolas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 September 1944 Toulouse, France |
| Died | 4 March 2025 (aged 80) Paris, France |
| Political party | RPR UMP The Republicans |
| Spouse | Anne-Marie Debré (d. 2007) |
| Relations | Bernard Debré (twin brother) François Debré (brother) |
| Children | Charles Guillaume Marie-Victoire |
| Parents | Michel Debré Anne-Marie Lemaresquier |
| Alma mater | École nationale de la magistrature Sciences Po |
| Website | Website |
Jean-Louis Debré (born September 30, 1944 – died March 4, 2025) was an important French judge and politician. He held several key positions in France. From 2002 to 2007, he was the President of the National Assembly, which is like the main law-making body in France. After that, he became the President of the Constitutional Council from 2007 to 2016. This council makes sure that laws follow the country's constitution. He also served as the Minister of the Interior from 1995 to 1997.
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Early Life and Education
Jean-Louis Debré was born in Toulouse, France, on September 30, 1944. His father, Michel Debré, later became the Prime Minister. Jean-Louis had three brothers: Vincent, François, and his twin brother Bernard.
He came from a family with many notable members. His grandfather, Robert Debré, was a famous children's doctor. His uncle, Olivier Debré, was a well-known painter.
Jean-Louis Debré studied law at Panthéon-Assas University. He earned several degrees, including a doctorate in public law. He also studied at the Institut d'études politiques de Paris.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
Jean-Louis Debré first tried to become a member of the National Assembly in 1973 but was not elected. He joined the Rally for the Republic (RPR) party when it was started by Jacques Chirac in 1976. He ran for election again in 1978 but did not win.
Minister of the Interior
In 1995, Jean-Louis Debré became the Minister of the Interior. This job is about keeping the country safe and managing things like police and immigration. During his time, France faced some challenges, including attacks by a group called the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA).
He also worked on issues in Corsica, a French island. He tried to bring peace between the government and a group called the FLNC-Canal Historique. However, these talks did not fully succeed.
In 1996, he ordered the removal of about 300 people without proper documents who were staying in a church in Paris. This decision led to many protests. He also proposed new laws to control immigration.
In 2001, he became the mayor of Évreux, a city in France.
Leading the National Assembly
Jean-Louis Debré was a strong supporter of President Jacques Chirac. In 2002, he was re-elected to the National Assembly. He then ran to become the President of the National Assembly and won. This role meant he was in charge of the meetings and work of the main French parliament.
During his time as President, he was known for being fair and making sure that all members, including those from opposing parties, had their say.
Head of the Constitutional Council
In 2007, President Jacques Chirac chose Jean-Louis Debré to be the President of the Constitutional Council. This is a very important job, as the Council checks if new laws follow the French Constitution. He held this position until 2016.
While in this role, he sometimes shared his thoughts on political matters, even though his job usually required him to remain neutral. He also met with business leaders to discuss how the Council's decisions affected the economy.
After his term ended in 2016, he was appointed Chairman of the Superior Council of Archives, which helps manage France's historical documents.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving the Constitutional Council, Jean-Louis Debré wrote two books about his experiences. The first, Ce que je ne pouvais pas dire (What I Couldn't Say), was published in 2016. It talked about his time leading the Constitutional Council and his relationships with different presidents. His second book, Tu le raconteras plus tard (You'll Tell It Later), came out in 2017 and covered his years as Minister of the Interior and President of the National Assembly.
He also became a commentator on radio and television. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he was asked by the French government to give advice on whether to postpone elections.
In 2022, he created a play called Ces femmes qui ont réveillé la France (These Women Who Woke Up France). The play was about important women in French history.
Jean-Louis Debré passed away in Paris on March 4, 2025, at the age of 80.
Political Views
Jean-Louis Debré was known for being very loyal to Jacques Chirac. He later voted for François Hollande in the 2012 French presidential election. In 2016, he supported Alain Juppé for president, but then voted for Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 election.
See also
In Spanish: Jean-Louis Debré para niños
- Debré family
