Chaban-Delmas, Jacques

(1915- )

   political figure

   Born in Paris, Jacques Chaban-Delmas served as inspector of finances and played an active role in the Resistance, being promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 1944. A Radical deputy (1946), and mayor of bordeaux (1947-95), he joined the rassemblement du peuple français (RPF) of charles de gaulle and presided, after the dissolving of that party, over the group of social republicans in the National Assembly. Several times a minister, notably in the cabinets of pierre MENDÈS-FRANCE (1954-55) and of GUY MOLLET (1956-57), he actively participated in the return of De Gaulle in 1958. A member of the Union pour la nouvelle République (UNR) then of the unions DES DÉMOCRATES POUR LA RÉPUBLIQUE (UDR) and president of the National Assembly (1958-69), he was prime minister (1969-72) during the presidency of georges pompidou. But his "new society" (nouvelle societé) project raised much opposition from conservatives. He won only 14.5 percent of the vote during the presidential election of 1974. Joining the RPR formed by jacques chirac in 1976, Chaban-Delmas again served as president of the National Assembly from 1978 to 1981, then again from 1986 to 1988.