Leader of the Opposition in the French Senate

The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (French: chef de l'opposition au Sénat) is the leader of the largest opposition group in the Senate of France. The status has no official recognition in the French Constitution. What is more, the ideological differences between groups in the Senate is smaller than as usual, as the powers of the Senate allow it, at best, to lengthen the time for a bill.

Leader of the Opposition
in the Senate
Chef de l'opposition au Sénat
Incumbent
Patrick Kanner

since 23 January 2018
StyleThe President
ResidenceNone
Term length3 years
Inaugural holderAntoine Courrière
Formation28 April 1959

Following the 2011 Senate election and the victory of the Socialists, Jean-Claude Gaudin became the first right-wing Senate Opposition Leader under the Fifth Republic. Eight people have held the position since its establishment in 1959. The current officeholder is Patrick Kanner.

List of Opposition Leaders under the Fifth Republic

Political parties:   Socialist Party   Union for a Popular Movement

Leader Took office Left office Political group Notes
Antoine Courrière28 April 195920 September 1974SOC Senator for Aude. Died in office.[1]
Marcel Champeix20 September 19741 October 1980SOC Senator for Corrèze. Not reelected to the Senate.[2]
André Méric1 October 198022 June 1988SOCSenator for Haute-Garonne. Resigned to join the Rocard government.[3]
Claude Estier22 June 19881 October 2004SOCSenator for Paris. Did not seek reelection to the Senate.[4]
Jean-Pierre Bel1 October 20041 October 2011SOCSenator for Ariège. Subsequently became President of the Senate.[5][6]
Jean-Claude Gaudin1 October 20111 October 2014UMPSenator for Bouches-du-Rhône.[7]
Didier Guillaume1 October 201423 January 2018SOCSenator for Drôme.[8]
Patrick Kanner23 January 2018IncumbentSOCSenator for Nord.[9]

References

  1. (in French) Biography of Antoine Courrière on the official Senate website.
  2. (in French) Biography of Marcel Champeix on the official Senate website.
  3. (in French) Biography of André Méric on the official Senate website.
  4. (in French) Biography of Claude Estier on the official Senate website.
  5. (in French) Biography of Jean-Pierre Bel on the official Senate website.
  6. The French Senate elects Jean-Pierre Bel, its first Socialist President, www.bloomberg.com. 2 October 2011.
  7. (in French) Sénat : Gaudin président du groupe UMP, www.lefigaro.fr. 3 August 2011.
  8. (in French) Biography of Didier Guillaume on the official Senate website.
  9. (in French) Biography of Patrick Kanner on the official Senate website.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.