Juppé, Alain

(1945- )

   political figure, prime minister

   Born in Mont-de-Marsan, Alain Juppé attended the institut d'études politiques and the École nationale d'administration before becoming, in 1976, assistant to Prime Minister jacques chirac. Juppé also served as deputy mayor of Paris (1983), as a member of the European Parliament (1984-86), and as minister of foreign affairs (1993-95). When Chirac won the presidency in 1994, he named Juppé as his prime minister. in 1996, Juppé implemented a number of austerity measures, including a salary freeze for public-sector employees. These measures were widely disliked and, as a consequence, Juppé's popularity declined. After the defeat of the conservatives in the 1997 election, the Socialist leader, Lionel jospin, replaced Juppé as prime minister.