Paulette Guinchard-Kunstler Explained

Paulette Guinchard-Kunstler
Office:Member of the National Assembly
for Doubs's 2nd constituency
Term Start:19 June 2002
Term End:19 June 2007
Predecessor:Michel Bourgeois
Successor:Jacques Grosperrin
Term Start1:12 March 1997
Term End1:28 March 2001
Predecessor1:Michel Jacquemin
Successor1:Michel Bourgeois
Office2:Secretary of State for the Elderly
Term Start2:28 March 2001
Term End2:6 May 2002
President2:Jacques Chirac
Primeminister2:Lionel Jospin
Predecessor2:Dominique Gillot
Successor2:Dominique Versini
Office3:Besançon Municipal Councillor
Term Start3:19 June 1995
Term End3:18 February 2001
Office4:Regional Councillor for Franche-Comté
Term Start4:23 March 1989
Term End4:21 June 1997
Office5:Deputy Mayor of Besançon
Term Start5:14 March 1983
Term End5:19 June 1995
Birth Date:3 October 1949
Birth Place:Reugney, France
Death Place:Bern, Switzerland
Party:Socialist Party

Paulette Guinchard-Kunstler (3 October 1949 – 4 March 2021) was a French politician.[1] She served on the National Assembly representing Doubs's 2nd constituency as a member of the Socialist Party.

Biography

In 1983, Guinchard-Kunstler was appointed Deputy Mayor of Besançon by, a position she held until 1995, when she was elected to the municipal council. In 1997, she was elected to the National Assembly, serving in Doubs's 2nd constituency. In 2001, she left the National Assembly following her appointment as Secretary of State for the Elderly by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. That year, Robert Schwint announced his retirement as Mayor of Besançon. Guinchard-Kunstler's name was floated as a possibility, but Jean-Louis Fousseret obtained the Socialist Party nomination and eventually the seat.

In 2002, Guinchard-Kunstler returned to the National Assembly and became a vice president, alongside Hélène Mignon. On International Women's Day in 2005, she presided over the National Assembly and answered questions on television for one hour. In 2007, she became a part of the think tank, which was run by the Socialist Party. She decided not to seek reelection in the 2007 French legislative election.

In 2013, Guinchard-Kunstler became head of the Fondation de gérontologie.[2] She then launched with the Appel pour l'équité en faveur des aidants.[3] The goal was to provide France's 10 million caregivers support and health protections. She achieved the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour on 14 April 2017.[4]

Paulette Guinchard-Kunstler died of assisted suicide in Switzerland on 4 March 2021 at the age of 71.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Décès de Paulette Guinchard-Kunstler, une vie au service des personnes âgées. 4 March 2013. La Croix. French.
  2. Web site: L'ex-ministre Paulette Guinchard prend la tête de la Fondation de gérontologie. 31 January 2013. France Info. French.
  3. Web site: Les aidants familiaux ont besoin d'aide. 5 March 2013. Le Parisien. French.
  4. Web site: Décret du 14 avril 2017 portant promotion et nomination. 16 April 2017. Légifrance. French.
  5. Web site: Décès de Paulette Guinchard, ancienne députée du Doubs et secrétaire d'Etat aux personnes âgées. 4 March 2021. France 3 Bourgogne Franche-Comté. French.