Jack Lang (French politician)

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Jack Lang
Jack Lang (French politician)

Incumbent
Assumed office 
19 June 2002
Preceded by Dominique Dupilet

In office
27 March 2000 – 5 May 2002
Preceded by Claude Allègre
Succeeded by Luc Ferry
In office
3 April 1992 – 29 March 1993
Preceded by Lionel Jospin
Succeeded by François Bayrou

In office
13 May 1988 – 2 April 1992
Preceded by François Léotard
Succeeded by Jacques Toubon
In office
22 May 1981 – 19 March 1986
Preceded by Michel d'Ornano
Succeeded by François Léotard

In office
16 March 1986 – 28 July 1988
In office
1 June 1997 – 27 April 2000

Mayor of Blois
In office
20 March 1989 – 2000
Preceded by Pierre Sudreau
Succeeded by Bernard Valette

Born September 2, 1939 (1939-09-02) (age 68)
Mirecourt, Vosges, France
Nationality French
Political party Socialist


Jack Mathieu Émile Lang (born 2 September 1939[1]) is a French politician and a member of the French Socialist Party. He currently serves in the National Assembly from the sixth district of Pas-de-Calais.[1]

Lang was born to Roger Lang and Marie-Luce Bouchet in Mirecourt, in the département of Vosges. He studied political science at the Paris Institute of Political Studies and went on to receive a postgraduate degree in public law. His career then focused on a combination of teaching and culture and the arts. He was the founder and producer of Festival du Monde in Nancy, France, was director of the Nancy University Theatre from 1963 to 1972 and then director of the Palais de Chaillot Théâtre from 1972 to 1974. At the same time he was a professor of international law from 1971 to 1981. He married Monique Buczynski in 1961 and they have two daughters.

Lang entered politics as a Socialist member of French National Assembly from Paris in 1977. He is best known for having served as Minister of Culture (22 May 1981-19 March 1986 and 13 May 1988-29 March 1993) and as Minister of Education (3 April 1992 to 29 March 1993 and 27 March 2000 to 5 May 2002).[1]

In 1981, while Minister of Culture, he created the Fête de la Musique, a massive celebration of music held on 21 June each year, where many amateur musicians give free open-air performances. He is the co-founder and president of the Union of the Theatres of Europe.

On August 1st, 1981, he created the Lang Law, which fixes the price of books.

Lang was a Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1997.[1] In 2000 he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Paris. While he had planned to run for president in 2007 he decided not to register as a candidate for the Socialist nomination in the name of party unity.

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Preceded by
Michel d'Ornano
Minister of Culture
1981-1986
Succeeded by
François Léotard
Preceded by
François Léotard
Minister of Culture
1988-1993
Succeeded by
Jacques Toubon
Preceded by
Lionel Jospin
Minister of Education
1992-1993
Succeeded by
François Bayrou
Preceded by
Claude Allègre
Minister of Education
1997-2000
Succeeded by
Luc Ferry