Movement for France
Movement for France | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Philippe de Villiers |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | 4 bis Villa Montonerre - 75015 PARIS |
| Ideology | Traditionalism, Souverainism, Nationalism Euroscepticism |
| European affiliation | Independence and Democracy |
| Colours | Blue |
| Website | |
| www.pourlafrance.fr | |
The Movement for France (French: Mouvement pour la France), or MPF, is a French conservative, traditionalist and nationalist party, founded on November 20, 1994, with a marked regional implementation in Vendée. It is led by Philippe de Villiers, once communications minister under Jacques Chirac. Philippe de Villiers may be tied to the legitimist right-wing tradition analyzed by René Rémond.[citation needed] The party is Eurosceptic, though not to the extent of seeking to cede from the Union, resisting increases in European integration and campaigned for a "no" vote in the 2005 referendum on the European constitution. It is also strongly opposed to the possible admission of Turkey into the European Union and to what it sees as the Islamisation of France.
Electoral Record
Founded in 1994, the party nominated Philippe de Villiers as candidate in the French presidential election, 1995. He obtained over a million votes and 4.74%, but failed to pass 5%.
In the 1997 legislative election, the MPF joined forces with the National Centre of Independents and Peasants as La Droite Indépendante (LDI). De Villiers was the only elected LDI deputy.
It contested the 1999 European Parliamentary Elections in alliance with the Rassemblement pour la France of Charles Pasqua, the combination winning 13 seats, surpassing Sarkozy's RPR list. Standing by itself in the 2004 European elections it obtained 7.6% of the popular vote and returned three MEPs. The party is a member of the Independence and Democracy Group in the European Parliament.
Philippe de Villiers was declared a candidate for the presidential election of 2007 and appointed a secretary-general, Guillaume Peltier, currently ranked second in the party. He ranked sixth out of twelve candidates, obtaining 2.23% (818,407 votes), down almost 2% from his previous candidacy in 1995. His best scores came in Pays-de-la-Loire with 4.99% and Poitou-Charentes with 3.58%. Unlike in 1995, he failed to win in his department of Vendée, where he obtained 11.28% (over 20% in 1995).
In the 2007 legislative election, MPF candidates ran nationwide, but only one candidate was elected- Véronique Besse in the Vendée by the first round. Former MPF member Joël Sarlot was also elected by the first round in the Vendée (in the 5th circonscription). Sarlot subsequently lent support to the victorious UMP. Other candidates, mostly in the south of France obtained important scores. J. Bombard, in the 4th circonscriptions of Vaucluse won over 20%.
The MPF currently controls one general council, that of Vendée, where Philippe de Villiers serves as President of the general council.
The MPF currently has 20,000 members.
European project of the MPF
- Restore the rule of national law over European law. It is a guiding principle: the re-establishment of democracy by subjecting the technocratic body to the elected one.
- Cease negotiations of accession of Turkey to the European Union, and begin a process of privileged partnerships with Turkey and other Mediterranean countries.
- Allow the countries of Europe to form their own, independent foreign policies.
- Follow a policy of respect of national borders and control of immigration.
- Build a Europe of free and selected co-operations.
- Put the national Parliaments in the middle of European construction in their giving a right of veto on the vital interests of the people which they represent.
- Found a right of call in front of the people for the judgments of the Court of Justice, true right of popular opposition.
- Put the European Union and the euro at the service of the growth and employment.
- Found a European preference for industry and the services, as for agriculture.
- Refuse the European tax and technocratic Europe which costs France €3.8 billion per year.
Elected Officials
- Deputies: Véronique Besse
- Senators: Bruno Retailleau, Bernard Seillier, Philippe Darniche
- MEPs: Philippe de Villiers, Paul-Marie Couteaux, Patrick Louis