Early political career Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

1 political career

1.1 first offices: 1956–1962
1.2 member of gaullist majority: 1962–1974
1.3 presidential election victory

early political career
first offices: 1956–1962

in 1956, elected parliament deputy puy-de-dôme département, in domain of maternal family. joined national centre of independents , peasants (cnip), conservative grouping. after proclamation of fifth republic, cnip leader antoine pinay became minister of economy , finance , chose him secretary of state finances 1959 1962.

member of gaullist majority: 1962–1974

giscard u.s. president john f. kennedy @ white house, in washington, d.c., 1962

in 1962, while giscard had been nominated minister of economy , finance, party broke gaullists , left majority coalition. cnip reproached president charles de gaulle euro-scepticism. giscard refused resign , founded independent republicans (ri), became junior partner of gaullists in presidential majority .

however, in 1966, dismissed cabinet. transformed ri political party, national federation of independent republicans (fnri), , founded perspectives , realities clubs. did not leave majority, became more critical. in this, criticised solitary practice of power , summarised position towards de gaulle s policy yes, ... . chairman of national assembly committee on finances, harassed successor in cabinet.

for reason gaullists refused re-elect him position after 1968 legislative election. in 1969, unlike of fnri’s elected officials, giscard advocated no vote in constitutional referendum concerning regions , senate, while de gaulle had announced intention resign if no won. gaullists accused him of being largely responsible de gaulle s departure.

during 1969 presidential campaign supported winning candidate georges pompidou, after returned ministry of economy , finance. on french political scene, appeared young brilliant politician, , preeminent expert in economic issues. representative of new generation of politicians emerging senior civil service, seen technocrats .

presidential election victory

in 1974, after sudden death of president pompidou, giscard announced candidacy presidency. 2 main challengers françois mitterrand left , jacques chaban-delmas, former gaullist prime minister. supported fnri party, obtained rallying of centrist reforming movement. moreover, benefited divisions in gaullist party. jacques chirac , other gaullist personalities published call of 43 explained giscard best candidate prevent election of mitterrand. in election, giscard finished ahead of chaban-delmas in first round, though coming second mitterrand. in run-off on 20 may, however, giscard narrowly defeated mitterrand, receiving 50.7% of vote.