Union for a Popular Movement facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Union for a Popular Movement Union pour un mouvement populaire
President	Nicolas Sarkozy
Vice President	Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet
General Secretary	Laurent Wauquiez
Founder	Jacques Chirac
Founded	23 April 2002; 23 years ago (2002-04-23)
Dissolved	30 May 2015; 10 years ago (2015-05-30)
Merger of	Rally for the Republic Liberal Democracy Democratic Convention
Succeeded by	The Republicans
Headquarters	238, rue de Vaugirard 75015 Paris Cedex 15
Membership (2014)	143,000
Ideology	Gaullism Conservatism Liberal conservatism Christian democracy
Political position	Centre-right to right-wing
European affiliation	European People's Party
International affiliation	Centrist Democrat International International Democracy Union
European Parliament group	European People's Party
Colours	Blue      White      Red
Political parties

The Union for a Popular Movement (in French: Union pour un mouvement populaire), often called UMP, was a big political party in France. It was known for its liberal-conservative ideas and was inspired by the Gaullist tradition.

During its time, the UMP was one of the two main political parties in France. The other was the Socialist Party. The UMP started in 2002. It was formed when several smaller parties on the centre-right joined together. This happened under the leadership of President Jacques Chirac. In May 2015, the party changed its name and became The Republicans.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who was the president of the UMP, became the President of France in 2007. He served until 2012, when he lost to François Hollande. After 2012, the UMP faced some challenges and disagreements within the party. In November 2014, Sarkozy became UMP president again. He suggested changing the party's name to The Republicans. This change was approved and happened on May 30, 2015. The UMP held a strong majority in the National Assembly from 2002 to 2012. It was also part of several international political groups.

Party History

How the UMP Started

Since the 1980s, right-wing political groups in France often worked together. They shared ideas about economic liberalism and building a stronger Europe. Sometimes, their disagreements led to them losing elections.

Before the 1993 election, two main parties, the Rally for the Republic (RPR) and the Union for French Democracy (UDF), formed an alliance. But in the 1995 presidential election, they were divided. Some supported Jacques Chirac, who won, and others supported Edouard Balladur. After losing the 1997 election, the RPR and UDF tried to work together more closely.

Before the 2002 presidential election, supporters of President Jacques Chirac formed a group called "Union on the Move." After Chirac was re-elected, they created the "Union for the Presidential Majority" to run in the next election. This group later became the "Union for a Popular Movement" and became a permanent party.

The UMP was a mix of several parties. These included the Gaullist-conservative RPR and the conservative-liberal Liberal Democracy. It also included parts of the Union for French Democracy (UDF), like Christian Democrats. So, the UMP brought together different political ideas from France.

Alain Juppé, a close friend of Chirac, became the UMP's first president in November 2002. He won with a large majority of votes. In its early years, the party had some tensions. There were rivalries between Juppé and supporters of Nicolas Sarkozy.

The UMP faced some tough elections in 2004. They did not win many regions in France. They also had a difficult time in the 2004 European Parliament election. However, the party's membership grew a lot in the early 2000s. This happened because members got more say in choosing the party's presidential candidate.

Nicolas Sarkozy's Time as Leader (2004–2012)

Alain Juppé resigned as party president in July 2004. Nicolas Sarkozy quickly announced he would take over. He resigned from his job as finance minister to do this. On November 28, 2004, Sarkozy was elected president of the UMP. He won with a big majority of the votes. After taking control of the party, Sarkozy focused on the 2007 presidential election.

In 2005, a vote on the European Constitution failed. This led to a change in government. A new cabinet was formed, led by another UMP politician, Dominique de Villepin. During this time, the UMP gained many new members. The party got ready for the 2007 election. On January 14, 2007, Sarkozy was chosen as the UMP's presidential candidate.

Under Sarkozy, the party generally took a more right-wing stance. They did not support Turkey joining the European Union.

On April 22, 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy won the first round of the presidential election. On May 6, he won the second round against Ségolène Royal. He became President of France on May 16, 2007. He resigned from the UMP presidency two days before. François Fillon became Prime Minister. In the June 2007 election, the UMP won a majority of seats in the National Assembly.

After Sarkozy became president, the UMP decided to have a group of leaders. This was instead of one single leader. This group included three vice-presidents and a secretary-general.

In 2008, the party did not do well in local elections. They lost control of many cities and regions. Xavier Bertrand became the new secretary-general of the party in late 2008.

In the 2009 European Parliament election, the UMP worked with smaller allied parties. They won 27.9% of the vote. This was a good result for a party in power. They won 29 seats. However, in the 2010 regional elections, the UMP had a very poor result. They only got 26% of the vote.

In November 2010, there was a change in the government. François Fillon remained Prime Minister. Alain Juppé rejoined the government. Jean-François Copé replaced Xavier Bertrand as the UMP's general-secretary.

The party faced more losses in the 2011 local elections. In September, the centre-right lost control of the French Senate for the first time. In May 2011, the Radical Party decided to leave the UMP. They formed a new group called The Alliance.

The UMP decided not to hold primary elections for the 2012 presidential election. They supported Nicolas Sarkozy for a second term. But Sarkozy lost the election to François Hollande on May 6, 2012. The party also lost the next election for the National Assembly.

After May 2012: Changes and New Name

After Sarkozy's defeat, the UMP's secretary-general, Jean-François Copé, suggested creating different groups within the party. He also wanted to hold primary elections for the next presidential election.

Leadership Contest in 2012

The UMP decided to hold a party meeting in November 2012. This led to a contest for the party's leadership. Two main candidates ran for president of the party: former Prime Minister François Fillon and the current secretary-general Jean-François Copé.

The campaign between Fillon and Copé lasted two months. Fillon was popular in polls and had support from many UMP politicians. Copé said he was the candidate for party members who were more active. Copé remained in control of the party's organization.

Fillon's campaign was seen as more moderate. Copé campaigned with a more direct and strong approach. They had different styles, but both had support from different parts of the party.

Six different ideas or "motions" were presented to party members. If a motion got more than 10% of the votes, it would be recognized as an official "movement" within the UMP. These movements would get their own funding and positions in the party.

Results and Challenges

The vote on November 18 had many people participating. But soon, there were claims of problems and possible cheating from both sides. Both candidates said they had won shortly after the votes were counted.

A day later, the group in charge of the vote announced Copé's victory by only 98 votes. Fillon first accepted this. But then, his campaign said he had actually won by 26 votes. They argued that some votes from overseas areas were not counted.

Alain Juppé tried to help the two candidates agree, but it did not work. Fillon threatened to take the issue to court. On November 26, the party's appeals group decided in Copé's favor.

On November 27, 72 politicians who supported Fillon formed a new group in the National Assembly. Copé then suggested holding a vote to change the party's name. But he changed his mind when Fillon's group was formed. Later, Copé agreed to hold another vote for the party president. Fillon also agreed to this, and his group was dissolved.

Solving the Issues

The two rivals, Copé and Fillon, reached an agreement in December 2012. Copé agreed to a new election and changes to the party rules. Fillon agreed to end his separate parliamentary group.

The party's leadership was reorganized in January 2013. This was to include supporters of both Copé and Fillon. New leaders were also chosen in February 2013.

Name Change and End of the UMP

After Nicolas Sarkozy was elected president of the UMP again in November 2014, he wanted to change the party's name. He suggested "The Republicans." Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, a vice president, presented ideas for new party rules. These rules included electing local leaders directly and ending official internal groups.

Some people criticized Sarkozy's choice of name. They said "Republicans" should be for all French people, not just one party. The new name was approved by the party's leaders on May 5, 2015. Party members then voted online on May 28. A large majority (83.28%) voted yes to the new name. The new party rules were also approved by a large majority.

So, The Republicans officially took over from the UMP. It became the main centre-right party in France.

Party Ideas and Goals

The UMP was a centre-right party. It followed the Gaullist tradition. It was described as liberal-conservative, conservative, and Christian democratic.

The UMP believed that everyone should have the freedom to achieve their goals. It did not like political systems that "stifle economic freedom." The party thought that hard work, new ideas, and personal effort should be encouraged. This would help reduce unemployment and grow the economy. But at the same time, it believed in following the law and the authority of the state.

Following the Gaullist tradition, the UMP supported helping those in need. The state would ensure social protection for less fortunate people. However, the party also spoke out against too much welfare.

Sometimes, the party took strong national positions. It often had tough views on immigration and illegal immigration. It strongly supported immigrants becoming part of French society. It also warned against separate communities forming within the nation. However, the UMP generally supported European integration and the European Union.

Under Nicolas Sarkozy's leadership, the UMP focused on liberal economic ideas and security. His campaigns in 2007 and 2012 emphasized personal responsibility. He promoted the idea of "working more to earn more." He promised that overtime work would not be taxed.

Sarkozy was known for being tough on crime. His policies focused on law and order. He supported stricter punishments for criminals. As a candidate and president, he talked a lot about immigration and national identity. He sometimes presented immigration as a danger to French identity. As president, he made rules stricter for families joining relatives in France. He also created a special ministry for immigration and national identity.

Some critics said the government was getting too close to the far-right National Front party. The UMP's official position was to not form alliances with the National Front. But it also did not support joining with the left against the National Front.

Groups Within the Party

The UMP's original rules allowed for different groups or "factions" within the party. These groups would represent different political ideas. However, leaders like Juppé and Sarkozy delayed creating these official groups. They worried about rivalries and divisions. Still, there were informal groups of members who shared similar ideas.

After the November 2012 meeting, Jean-François Copé allowed official movements within the party. These movements had to be supported by a certain number of politicians and members. They would then get their own funding and roles in the party.

Official Movements and Factions

Six motions tried to become official movements after the November 2012 meeting. Five of them met the requirements. Their leaders then joined the UMP's leadership.

• The Strong Right (La Droite forte): This group included many Sarkozysts, who were conservatives and liberal-conservatives. It also included Blue Ecology members, who were centrist ecologists.
• The Social Right (La Droite sociale): This group included Social Gaullists or Séguinists. These were left-wing Gaullists and social democrats.
• Modern and Humanist France (France moderne et humaniste): This group had several parts.

* The Reformers were classical liberals. * Democratic and Popular were Christian democrats and centrists. * The Progressives were social liberals who used to be in the Socialist Party. * The Christian Democratic Party were social conservatives and Christian democrats.

• Gaullism, a way forward for France (Le Gaullisme, une voie d'avenir pour la France): This group included Neo-Gaullists, also called Chiraquiens. They were right-wing Gaullists and secular conservatives. It also included The Free Right, who were conservative-liberals.
• The Popular Right (La Droite populaire): This group included the Initiative and Liberty Movement (Gaullists and national-conservatives) and the Rally for France (national-conservatives).

Associated Parties

Some smaller parties were linked to the UMP. These included the Hunting, Fishing, Nature, Tradition party and the Christian Democratic Party. Members of these parties were also part of the UMP. The Radical Party was linked to the UMP from 2002 to 2011.

Overseas parties also worked with the UMP. These included O Porinetia To Tatou Ai'a in French Polynesia and The Rally–UMP in New Caledonia.

2012 Leadership Election Groups

The November 2012 leadership election divided the party. There were supporters of François Fillon (fillonistes) and supporters of Jean-François Copé (copéistes).

• Copéistes (supporters of Jean-François Copé): This group included Jean-François Copé, Luc Chatel, Rachida Dati, and Brice Hortefeux.
• Fillonistes (supporters of François Fillon): This group included François Fillon, Laurent Wauquiez, Valérie Pécresse, and Xavier Bertrand.
• Some members remained neutral, like Bruno Le Maire and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet. Nicolas Sarkozy and Alain Juppé also did not officially support any candidate.

Elected Officials

The UMP had many elected officials:

• Deputies: 186 members in the UMP group in the National Assembly. This group also included members from other small parties.
• Senators: 131 members in the UMP group in the Senate. This group also included members from other parties.
• MEPs: 24 members in the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

Important Office Holders

• Nicolas Sarkozy (President of the Republic, 2007–2012)
• François Fillon (Prime Minister, 2007–2012)
• Bernard Accoyer (President of the National Assembly)
• Jean-Louis Debré (President of the Constitutional Council)
• Joseph Daul (President of the EPP Group in the European Parliament)

Where the UMP Got Its Support

The UMP's voters were similar to those of the older Rally for the Republic (RPR) party. In the 2007 presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy did best in eastern France. This included areas like Alsace and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur. His best area was the wealthy coastal department of the Alpes-Maritimes. These areas are often conservative. Sarkozy also got many votes from people who had supported the far-right in 2002.

Sarkozy also appealed to blue-collar workers in some northern regions. The party was strong in wealthy suburban or coastal areas. It was also strong in most rural areas, like many conservative parties. However, it was not as strong in rural areas of southern France. These areas have a history of supporting republican ideals. But in older Catholic rural areas, the UMP was very strong.

The UMP did not do as well in Brittany. This region had fewer religious practices and a more moderate electorate. Nicolas Sarkozy also did not do as well in departments with many moderate Christian democratic voters. For example, in Lozère, the Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal did better than expected.

Leadership

Nicolas Sarkozy speaking at a UMP party congress in 2004

Presidents

No.	Name	Photo	Began	Left
1	Alain Juppé		17 November 2002	16 July 2004
—	Interim Jean-Claude Gaudin		16 July 2004	28 November 2004
2	Nicolas Sarkozy		28 November 2004	14 May 2007
—	Vacant (Secretaries-general as the head of the party)   Pierre Méhaignerie: 14 May 2007 – 25 September 2007 Patrick Devedjian: 25 September 2007 – 5 December 2008 Xavier Bertrand: 5 December 2008 – 17 November 2010 Jean-François Copé: 17 November 2010 – 19 November 2012		14 May 2007	19 November 2012
3	Jean-François Copé		19 November 2012	15 June 2014
—	Interim Alain Juppé, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, & François Fillon		15 June 2014	October 2014
(2)	Nicolas Sarkozy		30 November 2014	30 May 2015

Vice Presidents

• Jean-Claude Gaudin, executive vice president (2002–2007)
• Jean-Claude Gaudin, Pierre Méhaignerie, Jean-Pierre Raffarin as vice presidents of the national council (2007–2012)
• Luc Chatel (2012–2014), and later others joined him (January 2013 – May 2015)

Presidents of the National Council

• unknown (2002–2013)
• Jean-Pierre Raffarin (2013–2015)

Secretaries-General

• Philippe Douste-Blazy (2002–2004)
• Pierre Méhaignerie (2004–2007)
• Patrick Devedjian (2007–2008)
• Xavier Bertrand (2008–2010)
• Jean-François Copé (2010–2012)
• Michèle Tabarot (2012–2015), joined by Valérie Pécresse and Marc-Philippe Daubresse (January 2013 – 2015)

Group Leaders in the National Assembly

• Jacques Barrot (2002–2004)
• Bernard Accoyer (2004–2007)
• Jean-François Copé (2007–2010)
• Christian Jacob (2010–2015)

Group Leaders in the Senate

• Josselin de Rohan (2002–2008)
• Henri de Raincourt (2008–2009)
• Gérard Longuet (2009–2011)
• Jean-Claude Gaudin (2011–2015)

Election Results

Presidential Elections

National Assembly Elections

European Parliament Elections

See also

In Spanish: Unión por un Movimiento Popular para niños

• Politics of France
• List of political parties in France
• Tree of Liberty (symbol)