Jacques Toubon | |
Office: | Defender of Rights |
Term Start: | 17 July 2014 |
Term End: | 16 July 2020 |
President: | François Hollande Emmanuel Macron |
Predecessor: | Dominique Baudis |
Successor: | Claire Hédon |
Office1: | Minister of Culture |
Term Start1: | 1993 |
Term End1: | 1995 |
President1: | François Mitterrand |
Primeminister1: | Édouard Balladur |
Predecessor1: | Jack Lang |
Successor1: | Philippe Douste-Blazy |
Office2: | Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice |
Term Start2: | 1995 |
Term End2: | 1997 |
President2: | Jacques Chirac |
Primeminister2: | Alain Juppé |
Predecessor2: | Pierre Méhaignerie |
Successor2: | Élisabeth Guigou |
Office3: | Mayor of the 13th arrondissement of Paris |
Term Start3: | 1983 |
Term End3: | 2001 |
Predecessor3: | None |
Successor3: | Serge Blisko |
Office4: | Member of the European Parliament |
Constituency4: | Île-de-France |
Term Start4: | 2004 |
Term End4: | 2009 |
Birth Date: | 21 June 1941 |
Birth Place: | Nice, France |
Spouse: | Lise Weiler (died 2021) |
Party: | RPR UMP |
Alma Mater: | Sciences Po Lyon École nationale d'administration |
Jacques Toubon (born 21 June 1941[1]) is a right-wing French politician who held several major national and Parisian offices. He served as Defender of Rights (Ombudsman) between 2014 and 2020.[2]
Governmental functions
Minister of Culture : 1993–1995.[3]
Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice : 1995–1997.
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European Parliament : 2004–2009. Elected in 2004.
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly for Paris : 1981–1993 (Became minister in 1993). Elected in 1981, reelected in 1986, 1988, 1993.
Municipal Council
Deputy-mayor of Paris : 1983–2001. Reelected in 1989, 1995.
Councillor of Paris : 1983–2008. Reelected in 1989, 1995, 2001.
Mayor of the 13th arrondissement of Paris : 1983–2001. Reelected in 1989, 1995.
Councillor of the 13th arrondissement of Paris : 1983–2001. Reelected in 1989, 1995.
Jacques Toubon is known for the controversial so-called Toubon Law, enforcing the use of the French language in official French government publications, and advertisements published in France. Since the law can largely be described as being hostile to English, Jacques Toubon is sometimes referred to, jokingly, as "Mr Allgood" ("All Good" being a translation of "Tout bon").
Jacques Toubon is also remembered for the "helicopter affair". In 1996, an initial criminal enquiry had been opened by Laurent Davenas, then head prosecutor of Évry for alleged misuse of government funds, in which Xavière Tiberi, wife of then mayor of Paris Jean Tiberi (from Toubon's party) was involved. (See corruption scandals in the Paris region). However, this was not a full criminal investigation and no investigative magistrate had been named. Davenas then went on vacation in the Himalaya. His deputy then announced his decision to open a full investigation. The Rally for the Republic leaders were frightened by the possible implications of such an investigation, and Jacques Toubon, then minister of justice, famously hired a helicopter to fetch the mountaineering prosecutor and convince him to rein in his deputy (Davenas refused). http://www.denistouret.net/constit/Laurent_Davenas.html
Jacques Toubon has been the topic of much lampooning. In addition to "Mr Allgood", Les Guignols de l'info have referred to him as "M. Bouffon" ("Mr Buffoon").
He was married to art expert Lise Toubon.[4]