Philippe Martin (politician) explained

Philippe Martin
Office:Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy
Term Start:2 July 2013
Term End:31 March 2014
President:François Hollande
Primeminister:Jean-Marc Ayrault
Predecessor:Delphine Batho
Successor:Ségolène Royal
Office2:Member of the National Assembly
for Gers's 1st constituency
Term Start2:2002
Term End2:2013
Predecessor2:Claude Desbons
Successor2:Franck Montaugé
Term Start3:2014
Term End3:2017
Predecessor3:Franck Montaugé
Successor3:Jean-René Cazeneuve
Birth Date:22 November 1953
Birth Place:La Garenne-Colombes, France
Nationality:French
Party:Socialist Party

Philippe Martin (in French pronounced as /filip maʁtɛ̃/; born 22 November 1953) is a French politician of the Socialist Party (PS) who has been serving as president of the French Agency for Biodiversity (AFB) since 2017. Prior this, he served as Minister for Environment, Sustainable Development and Energy in the government of Prime Minister of France Jean-Marc Ayrault from 2013 to 2014.

Political career

Martin was prefect of Gers department from 1992 to 1994 and prefect of Landes department from 1994 to 1995.

Martin was a member of the National Assembly from 2002 until 2013, representing Gers's 1st constituency.[1] In parliament, he was a member of the "Socialist, Radical, Citizen and Miscellaneous Left" (SRC) political group and served on the Finance Committee.

During his brief term as minister, Martin put off plans for France's transition towards less carbon-intensive energy sources until 2014.[2] In 2014, as part of a wider effort to deter poachers and traffickers, Martin publicly destroyed a stock of about three tons of confiscated ivory from the tusks of African elephants, making France the first European country to take such a step.[3] Shortly after, in an effort to protect the citizens of Paris against pollution triggered by an exceptionally warm spring, he ordered a 20 kilometer-hour reduction of the speed limits, made parking free in the city and diverted large trucks from the city.[4]

Political positions

Martin is a fierce critic of genetically modified organisms (GMO).[5]

On 1 July 2012, Martin asked French restaurateurs and wine merchants to stop selling Californian wines in protest against the entry into force of a California law prohibiting the sale of foie gras on grounds of animal welfare.

In the Socialist Party's 2017 primaries, Martin publicly endorsed Benoît Hamon as the party's candidate for the French presidential election later that year.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LISTE DÉFINITIVE DES DÉPUTÉS ÉLUS À L'ISSUE DES DEUX TOURS. 2010-07-04 . French . National Assembly of France.
  2. https://www.reuters.com/article/france-politics-greens/green-party-threatens-to-drop-support-for-french-government-idINL5N0HA0H320130914 Green party threatens to drop support for French government
  3. Maïa de la Baume (6 February 2014), France: Seized Ivory Destroyed The New York Times.
  4. Inti Landauro (13 March 2014) Early Spring Triggers Pollution Alert in Paris Wall Street Journal.
  5. https://www.reuters.com/article/france-minister/update-2-french-energy-minister-sacked-for-speaking-out-of-turn-idUSL5N0F83W720130702 French energy minister sacked for speaking out of turn
  6. Laure Bretton (1 January 2017), Philippe Martin : «Benoît Hamon est le candidat de la sociale-écologie» Libération.