Charles Millon Explained

Charles Millon
Office:Minister of Defence
Term Start:18 May 1995
Term End:2 June 1997
President:Jacques Chirac
Primeminister:Alain Juppé
Predecessor:François Léotard
Successor:Alain Richard
Office2:President of the Regional Council of Rhône-Alpes
Term Start2:27 October 1988
Term End2:3 January 1999
Predecessor2:Charles Béraudier
Successor2:Anne-Marie Comparini
Office3:Member of the National Assembly
for Ain's 3rd constituency
Term Start3:1997
Term End3:2001
Successor3:Étienne Blanc
Office4:Mayor of Belley
Term Start4:25 March 1977
Term End4:23 March 2001
Predecessor4:Charles Vulliod
Successor4:Jean-Claude Travers
Birth Date:13 November 1945
Birth Place:Belley, Ain, France
Party:UDF (1978-1998)
The Right (since 1999)
Alma Mater:University of Lyon
Spouse:Chantal Delsol

Charles Marie Philippe Millon (in French pronounced as /ʃaʁl mijɔ̃/ born 13 November 1945) is a French politician who served as Minister of Defence from 1995 to 1997 under Prime Minister Alain Juppé. A former member of the Union for French Democracy (UDF), he represented Ain in the National Assembly (1978–1995; 1997–2001), where he took the presidency of the UDF group over from Jean-Claude Gaudin from 1989 until 1995. Millon also held the mayorship of his native town of Belley from 1977 to 2001 and presidency of the Regional Council of Rhône-Alpes from 1988 to 1999.[1]

As Defence Minister, Millon led the highly sensitive 1997 reform on the professionalisation of the French Armed Forces, which had been decided the year prior by President Jacques Chirac in order to abolish the military service. In 1998, to retain the presidency of the regional council, Millon agreed on being elected with votes from Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front (FN) and was subsequently expelled from the UDF. He then created his own party, The Right (LD), aiming at federating French liberals and conservatives, which met limited success.[2]

Millon ran in 2001 municipal election for Mayor of Lyon and served one term as a municipal councillor for the 3rd arrondissement. Having been defeated in his 2002 parliamentary run in Rhône, he was nominated in 2003 as France's ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, where he advocated for African development. He retained the position until 2007.

Political career

Governmental functions
Electoral mandates
  • National Assembly of France
  • Regional Council
    General Council
    Municipal Council
    Urban Community Council

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Charles Millon, 53 ans, ancien ministre, fondateur de la Droite, est président du conseil régional Rhône-Alpes grâce au FN. Le petit Charles. . Guichoux . Marie . Libération . 7 November 1998.
    2. Web site: Millon bouge encore. Il avait lancé la Droite pour les européennes. Il veut en faire un parti.. Schneider . Vanessa . Libération . 23 October 1999.