Dominique de Villepin
Dominique de Villepin Prime Minister of France In office 31 May 2005 – 17 May 2007 President Jacques Chirac Preceded by Jean-Pierre Raffarin Succeeded by François Fillon Minister of the Interior In office 31 March 2004 – 31 May 2005 Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin Preceded by Nicolas Sarkozy Succeeded by Nicolas Sarkozy Minister of Foreign Affairs In office 7 May 2002 – 31 March 2004 Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin Preceded by Hubert Védrine Succeeded by Michel Barnier Personal details Born Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin (1953-11-14) 14 November 1953 (age 61) Rabat, Morocco Political party RPR (prior to 2002) UMP (2002-2010) RS (2010-present) Spouse(s) Marie-Laure de Villepin Relations Xavier de Villepin (father) Children Marie de Villepin Arthur de Villepin Victoire de Villepin Alma mater IEP de Paris École nationale d'administration Panthéon-Assas University Université Paris X Nanterre Occupation Diplomat Civil Servant Lawyer Author Religion Roman Catholicism France This article is part of a series on the politics and government of France Republic Fifth Republic Constitution Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Executive President (list) François Hollande Prime Minister (list) Manuel Valls Government Second Valls Government Legislature National Assembly President: Claude Bartolone Senate President: Jean-Pierre Bel Congress Judiciary Constitutional Council Council of State Court of Cassation Court of Audit Cour de Justice de la République Administrative divisions Regions Departments Elections Presidential Legislative Municipal Political parties Foreign relations Africa Americas Asia France and the United Nations Foreign alliances Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Related topics Human rights Political scandals France portal Other countries Atlas Politics portal v t e Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin (French: [dɔminik də vilpɛ ] ( listen); born 14 November 1953) is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007. A career diplomat, Villepin rose through the ranks of the French right as one of Jacques Chirac's protégés. He came into the international spotlight as Foreign Minister with his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq which culminated with a speech to the UN (French address on Iraq at the UN Security Council). Villepin was indicted in connection with the Clearstream affair, but was subsequently cleared of charges of complicity in allowing false accusations to proceed against presidential rival Nicolas Sarkozy regarding bribes paid on a sale of warships to Taiwan. Villepin has enjoyed a modest return to public favour for his public critique of President Sarkozy's style of "imperial rule." He has written poetry, a book about poetry, and several historical and political essays, along with a study of Napoleon Bonaparte. Villepin is an Honorary Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. He has been one of the most vocal right-wing opponents of President Nicolas Sarkozy, and on 8 September announced his candidature for President of France in 2012. On 25 March 2010, he announced that he would form a new center-right political movement in order to offer an alternative to Sarkozy in the 2012 election. However, Villepin failed to secure sufficient support to allow his candidacy to proceed .