Jean-Claude Gaudin (born 8 October 1939[1]) is a French politician. He has been Mayor of Marseille since 1995 and Vice-President of the Senate since 1998; additionally, he has been Vice-President of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) since 2002.
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Gaudin was born on 8 October 1939 in Mazargues, in southern Marseille. In 1965, he was enrolled in the military service where he served briefly. Upon graduation from university, he became a professor of history and geography for 15 years at Saint-Joseph College in Marseille. He was elected on the list of centrist and socialist politicians known as the “Removes iron-Rastoin” against the Gaullist party Union for the New Republic (UNR). He was subsequently elected in a local election and became one of the youngest members of the town council of Marseille. He was re-elected again in 1971.
In 1974, he took part in the presidential campaign of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. In 1978, he won his first election for the French National Assembly as the candidate in the 2nd district of the Rhône delta. He beat the outgoing socialist deputy, Charles-Emile Loo, with 53.7% of the votes cast. In June 1981, he won reelection. He then became president of the Union for French Democracy (UDF) group to the French National Assembly.
In 1986, he was given the responsibility for the executive of Provence the Alps Rivieras. On 25 April 1986, he became president of the first regional council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur elected by direct vote. In 1988, after the dissolution of the French National Assembly, he was again re-elected, for the 4th time, deputy of the Rhone delta for 2nd district of Marseilles, with 60.63% of the votes cast. His presidency of the UDF Group to the French National Assembly was also renewed.
In September 1989, he was a candidate for the senatorial elections and won the district. In 1992, the renewal of the regional council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur enlisted much media interest. He then had to face the growing power of Jean-Marie Le Pen and the Front National. At the end of a violent and difficult campaign, he carried the vote again, beating Bernard Tapie and Jean-Marie Le Pen. He was also re-elected president of the regional council on 27 March 1992.
In 1983, Gaudin tried to unseat Gaston Defferre as Mayor of Marseilles, and lost for a handful of votes. In 1989, he was expected to win against Defferre's successor Robert Vigouroux, but lost again. In 1995, Gaudin stood for the post of Mayor along with maintaining his position as a senator. He won with an absolute majority of 55 City council men out of 101 and was installed as Mayor of Marseilles on 25 June 1995. On 7 November 1995, on a proposal from Alain Juppé, the President of the Republic Jacques Chirac named Jean-Claude Gaudin Minister for Integration and City and Regional Planning. On 14 July 1997, he was made Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur.
On 6 October 1998, he became Vice-President of the Senate. He was re-elected Mayor of Marseilles again on 25 March 2001 as well as 16 March 2008, and president of the Urban Community Marseilles Provence Métropole on 11 April. On 3 October 2001, Jean-Claude Gaudin was re-elected as Vice-President of the Senate for a second time. In 2004, he was re-elected for a third time as Vice-President of the Senate.
In 2004, Gaudin was interim president of the UMP after Alain Juppé stepped down and before Nicolas Sarkozy was elected.
Governmental function
Minister of Land Management, City and Integration : 1995-1997.
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
President of the Union for French Democracy Group in the National Assembly : 1981-1989 (Resignation, became senator in 1989). Elected in 1981, reelected in 1986, 1988.
Member of the National Assembly of France for Bouches-du-Rhône : 1978-1989 (Resignation, became senator in 1989). Elected in 1978, reelected in 1981, 1986, 1988.
Senate of France
President of the UMP Group in the Senate of France : Since 2011.
Vice-president of the Senate : Since 1998. Reelected in 2001, 2004, 2008.
Senator of Bouches-du-Rhône : 1989-1995 (Became minister in 1995) / Since 1998. Elected in 1989, reelected in 1998, 2008.
Regional Council
President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur : 1986-1998. Reelected in 1992.
Regional councillor of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur : 1986-1998. Reelected in 1992.
General Council
General councillor of Bouches-du-Rhône : 1982-1988.
Municipal Council
Mayor of Marseille : Since 1995. Reelected in 2001, 2008.
Municipal councillor of Marseille : 1965-1977 / Since 1983. Reelected in 1971, 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001, 2008.
Mayor of the 6th and 8th arrondissements of Marseille (4th sector) : 1983-1989.
Councillor of the 6th and 8th arrondissements of Marseille (4th sector) : 1983-1989.
Urban community Council
President of the Urban Community of Marseille Provence Métropole : 1995-2008. Reelected in 2001.
Vice-president of the Urban Community of Marseille Provence Métropole : Since 2008.
Member of the Urban Community of Marseille Provence Métropole : Since 1995. Reelected in 2001, 2008.
Political function
President of the Union for a Popular Movement : July-November 2004 / May-July 2007
Vice-president of the Union for a Popular Movement : 2007-2009
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gérard Longuet |
Leader of Union for a Popular Movement Group in the Senate 2011–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Jean-Pierre Bel |
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate 2011–present |
|
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Alain Juppé |
Acting President of the Union for a Popular Movement 2004 |
Succeeded by Nicolas Sarkozy |
| Preceded by Nicolas Sarkozy |
Acting President of the Union for a Popular Movement 2007 |
Succeeded by Collegial direction composed of himself, Patrick Devedjian, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, and Pierre Méhaignerie |
| Senators of Bouches-du-Rhône | ||
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Serge Andreoni · Jean-Claude Gaudin · Samia Ghali · Jean-Noël Guérini · Sophie Joissains · Isabelle Pasquet · Roland Povinelli |
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