Jean-Pierre Raffarin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Raffarin in 2013 | |
| Prime Minister of France | |
| In office 6 May 2002 – 31 May 2005 | |
| President | Jacques Chirac |
| Preceded by | Lionel Jospin |
| Succeeded by | Dominique de Villepin |
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 18 September 2005 – 4 October 2017 | |
| Constituency | Vienne |
| In office 1 October 2004 – 1 November 2004 | |
| Constituency | Vienne |
| In office 21 September 1997 – 6 June 2002 | |
| Constituency | Vienne |
| In office 2 October 1995 – 31 October 1995 | |
| Constituency | Vienne |
| Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce and Crafts | |
| In office 18 May 1995 – 4 June 1997 | |
| Prime Minister | Alain Juppé |
| Preceded by | Alain Madelin |
| Succeeded by | Marylise Lebranchu |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 25 July 1989 – 18 May 1995 | |
| Constituency | France |
| President of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes | |
| In office 19 December 1988 – 8 May 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Louis Fruchard |
| Succeeded by | Élisabeth Morin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 August 1948 Poitiers, France |
| Political party | The Republicans (2015–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal Democracy (before 2002) UMP (2002–2015) |
| Spouse |
Anne-Marie Perrier (m. 1980) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Panthéon-Assas University ESCP Business School |
Jean-Pierre Raffarin (French: [ʒɑ̃pjɛʁ ʀafaʁɛ̃] ; born 3 August 1948) is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 6 May 2002 to 31 May 2005 under President Jacques Chirac.
He resigned after France's rejection of the referendum on the European Union draft constitution. However, after Raffarin resigned, he said that his decision was not based on the outcome of the vote. Opinion polls following his resignation suggested that Raffarin was one of France's least popular prime ministers since the Fifth Republic was established in 1958. However, according to the book France: 1815–2003, written by Martin Evans and Emmanuel Godin, Raffarin was "a remarkably popular Prime Minister" despite his ability "to state the obvious and to make empty statements".
He was also Vice President of the Senate from 2011 to 2014.