Valery Giscard D Estaing

Valéry Giscard d’Estaing served as President of France, leaving a mark on both domestic and European policy. After being elected to the National Assembly in 1956, representing the Puy-de-Dôme department, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing rapidly ascended through French government. He served as Secretary of State for Finances from 1959 to 1962, then as Minister of Economy and Finance from 1962 to 1966. Demonstrating political acumen, he founded the Independent Republicans (RI) in 1966, a party that became a crucial component of the Gaullist majority.

He also led the Union for French Democracy (UDF) from 1988 to 1996 and served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1993, chairing the Liberal and Democratic Reformist Group. Continuing his unwavering commitment to European unity, Giscard d’Estaing proposed reducing the presidential term to five years in 2000, which was later adopted. From 2001 to 2004, he served as President of the Convention on the Future of Europe, tasked with drafting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. His profound contributions to France and Europe were further recognized in 2003 with his election to the Académie Française and the prestigious Charlemagne Prize, honoring his work for European unification.