Jean - Pierre Chevènement Jean - Pierre Chevènement ( born 9 March 1939 ) is a French politician . He was minister during presidencies of François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac . He was a presidential candidate in 1995 and in 2002 , and since 2008 has been a member of the Senate . Biography . Background . The Chevènement family is of Swiss origin , with their original name , Schwennemann , having been gallicized to Chevènement . He was born in Belfort near the Swiss border , speaks German , and studied in Vienna . Start in politics . Chevènement ' s idiosyncratic left - wing nationalism has led to comparison with the late British politician Peter Shore , he describes this Eurosceptic and Gaullist position as " republican " . He was Mayor of Belfort from 1983 to 2008 and was a Deputy in the National Assembly from 1973 to 2002 . He joined the French Section of the Workers ' International ( SFIO ) and founded the Center of Socialist Studies , Research and Education ( " Centre d ' études , de recherche et d ' éducation socialistes " or CERES ) . The organization constituted the left - wing of the party , and promoted the alliance with the Communist Party . In 1969 the SFIO was superseded by the Socialist Party ( " Parti socialiste " or PS ) . Two years later , CERES supported the takeover of the party by François Mitterrand . It took a major part in drawing up the socialist plan for the winning 1981 elections . In governments . Chevènement was Minister of Research and Industry from 1981 to 1983 , when he resigned , for the first of three times over his career , because he did not agree with the change in economic policy made by President Mitterrand in order to stay in the European Monetary System . He has said that " a minister has to keep his mouth shut ; if he wants to open it , he resigns " . However , he returned to the cabinet as Minister of National Education from 1984 to 1986 . Appointed Minister of Defence in 1988 , he served until 1991 , when he resigned due to his opposition to the Gulf War . After this he opposed the Maastricht Treaty , an issue on which Mitterrand and the PS led the " yes " campaign . In 1993 he left the PS and founded a new political party : the Citizens ' Movement ( " Mouvement des citoyens " or MDC ) . Chevènement and the MDC participated to the formation of the Plural Left coalition . When it won the 1997 legislative election he became Minister of the Interior , but he resigned for the third time in 2000 because of his opposition to giving increased autonomy to Corsica . On 2 September 1998 , Chevènement underwent surgery to his gall bladder . He then had a severe allergic reaction to the anesthetic , causing him to lapse into a coma for 8 days . He began to recover , leaving the hospital on 22 October , but he could not work in his ministry for another four months . As a result of this episode he gained the nickname " the miracle of the republic " . 2002 presidential election . He was a candidate at the 2002 presidential election . He put himself forward as the leader of the " republicans " against what he called the " Chirac / Jospin duo " . He created the Republican Pole , for more left - wing nationalists . He won 5 % of the vote . Many Socialists blamed Chevènement for being responsible for the elimination of Lionel Jospin in the first round of the presidential race . Consequently , at the June 2002 legislative election , the PS invested a candidate against him in the Belfort constituency . In this , he was defeated by the Union for a Popular Movement ( UMP ) candidate and lost his parliamentary seat . Citizen and Republican Movement . Finally , the Republican Pole split and Chevènement created the Citizen and Republican Movement ( " Mouvement républicain et citoyen " or MRC ) , which described itself as a left - wing party . He reconciled with the PS when , after raising the possibility of a new presidential candidacy , he renounced this to support Ségolène Royal ' s candidacy in the 2007 presidential election . In spite of the PS support , he failed to retake his parliamentary seat at the 2007 legislative election . He announced that he would not stand as a candidate for another term as Mayor of Belfort . In 2004 he established the Foundation " Res Publica " , which aims to promote the ' republican model ' ( " le modèle républicain " ) and to define a long - term political vision . Chevènement states , however , that " Res Publica " is not a political party . In the Senate election held on 21 September 2008 , Chevènement was elected as a Senator from the Territory of Belfort , defeating his opponent , Socialist candidate Yves Ackerman . He tried to be candidate for the presidential election of 2012 . Political profile . Jean - Pierre Chevènement is a souverainist and patriotic left - wing politician . Political career . Governmental functions Minister of State Minister of Research and Technology : 1981 – 1982 . Minister of State , Minister of Industry Research : 1982 – 1983 . Minister of National Education : 1984 – 1986 . Minister of Defense : 1988 – 1991 . Minister of Interior : 1997 – 2000 . Electoral mandates National Assembly of France Member of the National Assembly of France for Territoire de Belfort ( 1st then 2nd constituency from 1988 to 2002 ) : 1973 – 1981 ( Became minister in 1981 ) / 1986 – 1988 ( Became minister in 1988 ) / 1991 – 1997 ( Became minister in 1997 ) / 2000 – 2002 . Elected in 1973 , reelected in 1978 , 1981 , 1986 , 1988 , 1991 , 1993 , 1997 , 2000 . Senate of France Senator of Territoire de Belfort : Since 2008 . Regional Council President of the Regional Council of Franche - Comté : 1981 – 1982 . Regional councillor of Franche - Comté : 1974 – 1988 ( Resignation ) . Elected in 1986 . Municipal Council Mayor of Belfort : 1983 – 1997 ( Resignation ) / 2001 – 2007 ( Resignation ) . Reelected in 1989 , 1995 , 2001 . 1st deputy - mayor of Belfort : 1977 – 1983 / 1997 – 2001 . Reelected in 1997 . Municipal councillor of Belfort : 1977 – 2008 . Reelected in 1983 , 1989 , 1995 , 2001 . Agglomeration community Council President of the Agglomeration community of Belfort : 1977 – 2008 . Reelected in 1983 , 1989 , 1995 , 2001 . Member of the Agglomeration community of Belfort : 1977 – 2008 . Reelected in 1983 , 1989 , 1995 , 2001 . Political functions President of the Citizen and Republican Movement : Since 2008 .