Ribot, Alexandre

(1842-1923)

   political figure

   Born in Saint-Omer, Alexandre Ribot was an attorney and director of criminal affairs for the Ministry of Justice (1875), and was elected to the Chamber of Deputies as a moderate republican (center left, 1878-85). As foreign minister, he laid the groundwork for the Franco-Russian alliance (1890-93). Premier (December 1892-March 1893), he was forced to resign with his entire cabinet because of the panama affair. Recalled to lead the government (with the portfolio of Finance, January-December 1895), he contributed to making the African island of Madagascar a French colony and set up the basis for a rapprochement with Germany. Senator (1909) and minister of finance (1914-17), he was named premier during a critical period of world wari (March-September 1917). He replaced General georges nivelle with General philippe pétain and opposed the meeting of aristide briand with German representatives in switzerland. He had to resign with his cabinet after the accusations of defeatism brought against the minister of the interior. Ribot left politics after having assumed the portfolio of foreign minister in the cabinet of paul painlevé (September-November 1917). He was elected to the Académie Française in 1906.