Faure, Edgar

(1908-1988)

   political figure, writer

   Born in Béziers, Edgar Faure served as Radical-socialist deputy (1946-58) and participated in several governments of the fourth republic as a minister and as premier (January-February 1952, February 1955-January 1956). During his second ministry, sultan Mohammad v was restored to the Moroccan throne and Tunisia was granted autonomy by France. Placed in the minority by the National Assembly, which he then dissolved (December 1955), he lost power after the Republican Front victory and subsequently directed the leftist coalition upon leaving the Radical Party. Joining General charles de gaulle, he was officially charged with establishing diplomatic relations with mainland China (1963). Named minister of national education after the crisis of May 1968, he put through the law for educational reform and reorganization, especially in the universities. From 1973 to 1978, he was president of the National Assembly. Faure wrote on politics and history (La Disgrâce de Turgot, 1961) and left his Mémoires. He was elected to the Académie Française in 1978.