Bernard Pons


Bernard Pons was a French politician and medical doctor who was a member of the Union of Democrats for the Republic from 1971 to 1976 and a member of the Rally for the Republic party thereafter. He has served as Secretary General of Rally for the Republic, Minister for Transport and continued as a special advisor to the Union for a Popular Movement until 2008 after his retirement from active politics in 2002.

Early life

Born Claude Bernard Pons on 18 July 1926 in Beziers, Pons qualified as a doctor and worked as a General practitioner.

Political career

Pons was elected to the lower house of the French parliament in 1967 and served as a member of this house until 2002. He served in the Ministry of Agriculture from 22 June 1969 to 28 March 1973. In the government of Jacques Chirac, he served as Minister for Overseas Territory and travelled to Noumea to solve the Ouvéa cave hostage taking situation. In the government of Alain Juppé, he served as Minister of Transport.
Pons played a role in helping the Cahors wine region to regain its reputation. He successfully lobbied for Appellation d'origine contrôlée for the region. This brought significant money to the region.
Governmental functions
Secretary of State for Agriculture : 1969–1973
Minister of Overseas Departments and Territories : 1986–1988.
Minister of Planning, Infrastructure and Transport : May–November 1995.
Minister of Equipment, Housing, Transport and Tourism : 1995–1997.
Electoral mandates
European Parliament
Member of European parliament : 1984–1985. Elected in 1984.
National Assembly of France
President of the Rally for the Republic Group in the National Assembly : 1988–1995. Elected in 1988, reelected in 1993.
Member of the National Assembly of France for Lot : 1967–1969 / 1973–1978. Elected in 1967, reelected in 1968, 1973.
Member of the National Assembly of France for Essonne : 1978–1981. Elected in 1978.
Member of the National Assembly of France for Paris : 1981–1986 / 1988–1993 / 1997–2002. Elected in 1981, reelected in 1986, 1988, 1993, 1997.
General Council
General councillor of Lot : 1967–1979. Reelected in 1973.
Municipal Council
Municipal councillor of Paris : 1983–2008. Reelected in 1989, 1995, 2001.