Introduction
Hervé Morin (born 17 August 1961) is a French politician, currently the President of Normandy. Leader of the party The Centrists, he was the Minister of Defence under President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Political career
Member of National Assembly
He was elected as a representative to the French National Assembly on 16 June 2002, in the 3rd constituency of Eure, Normandy. He was the president of the Union for French Democracy (UDF) in the National Assembly. After the UDF's candidate for the 2007 presidential election, François Bayrou, did not make it to the 2nd round, he hinted that he attempted to create an alliance with the Socialist Party and decided to found a new political party: the Democratic Movement (or MoDem). Consequently, Morin, who is of the center-right and an ally of the presidential election's winner, Nicolas Sarkozy, made it an organisation within the presidential majority in the National Assembly. It is now called New Centre and he is the leader.
After the creation of the UMP, he took the presidency of the UDF group at the National Assembly, from 2002 to 2007. While Morin was joining the government as minister of Defence in July 2007, Marc Vampa New Centre replaced him as representative.
2012 presidential election
On 27 November 2011, Hervé Morin officially announced his intention to run for the 2012 French presidential election. During his campaign he claimed to have been present at the allied invasion of Normandy (1944), although he was not born until 1961. On 16 February 2012, he withdrew his candidacy and gave support to Nicolas Sarkozy.
Political functions and mandates
Governmental functions
Minister of Defence : 2007–2010
Electoral mandates
National Assembly of France
Member of the National Assembly of France for Eure (3rd constituency) : 1998–2007 (Became minister in 2007) / 2010-2016. Elected in 1998, reelected in 2002, 2007, 2012. Resignation in 2016.
General Council
General councillor of Eure : 1992–2004 / 2011-2014 (Resignation). Reelected in 1998 and 2011.
Regional Council
Regional councillor and President of Normandy, elected in Eure constituency : Since 2016.
Regional councillor of Haute-Normandie, elected in Eure constituency : 2004-2010.
Municipal Council
Mayor of Epaignes : 1995-2016. Reelected in 2001, 2008, 2014. Resignation in 2016.
Municipal councillor of Epaignes : Since 1989. Reelected in 1995, 2001, 2008, 2014.
Community of communes Council
President of the Communauté de communes of Canton de Cormeilles : Since 2001. Reelected in 2008, 2014.
Member of the Communauté de communes of Canton de Cormeilles : Since 2001. Reelected in 2008, 2014.