Philippe Martin (politician)

Philippe Martin (French pronunciation: [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.

For the politician representing the Marne département, see Philippe-Armand Martin. For other people, see Philippe Martin.

Philippe Martin
Philippe Martin in 2013
Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy
In office
2 July 2013 – 31 March 2014
PresidentFrançois Hollande
Prime MinisterJean-Marc Ayrault
Preceded byDelphine Batho
Succeeded bySégolène Royal
Member of the National Assembly
for Gers's 1st constituency
In office
2002–2013
Preceded byClaude Desbons
Succeeded byFranck Montaugé
In office
2014–2017
Preceded byFranck Montaugé
Succeeded byJean-René Cazeneuve
Personal details
Born (1953-11-22) 22 November 1953
La Garenne-Colombes, France
Political partySocialist Party

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]

References
  1. "LISTE DÉFINITIVE DES DÉPUTÉS ÉLUS À L'ISSUE DES DEUX TOURS" (in French). National Assembly of France. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  2. Green party threatens to drop support for French government Reuters.
  3. Maïa de la Baume (February 6, 2014), France: Seized Ivory Destroyed New York Times.
  4. Inti Landauro (13 March 2014) Early Spring Triggers Pollution Alert in Paris Wall Street Journal.
  5. French energy minister sacked for speaking out of turn Reuters, July 3, 2013.
  6. Laure Bretton (January 1, 2017), Philippe Martin : «Benoît Hamon est le candidat de la sociale-écologie» Libération.
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