Barre, Raymond

(1924- )

   economist and political figure

   Born in Saint-Denis, La Réunion, and educated in Paris (Institut d'études politiques), Raymond Barre is a distinguished professor of laws and economic sciences and has served as vice president of the Commission for the European Community (1967-72), president of the Commission for Financial Reform and Reconstruction (1975), minister of foreign trade (1976), and premier (1976), after the resignation of jacques chirac. Raymond Barre undertook a rigorous policy of financial reform to redress the nation's economic situation (plans Barre). As an economist without party affiliation he was charged with overcoming industrial stagnation, the deficit in foreign trade, and inflation. He sought to move France toward a free-market economy by removing price controls and limiting government aid to failing companies. High technology and competition were encouraged and, to deal with energy prices, the building of nuclear power plants was accelerated. Closer ties with Arab nations were developed to safeguard important sources of petroleum for France. Barre, however, had to resign after the defeat of valéry giscard-d'estaing in the presidential election of 1981. In the presidential election of 1988, Barre himself ran and gained 16.55 percent in the first round of voting. He has served since 1978 as deputy for Rhône and, after 1995, as mayor of lyon.