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Born on 22 January 1947 in Bapaume (Pas-de-Calais)

Former manager of an agricultural trading company

Since September 2001: member of the Senate Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee

Since November 1992: Chairman of the French Mayors' Association

Since September 1992: Senator for Pas-de-Calais

Member of the Committee responsible for reviewing legislation

Member of the Committee responsible for looking at local authority finances

1986-1988: National Assembly Deputy for Pas-de-Calais

Since 1982: Mayor of Bapaume (Pas-de-Calais)

1980-2001: Member of Pas-de-Calais General Council

Areas of expertise
Local authority finances and economic development
Integration, employment
Chairman of the "cohésion sociale et territoire" working group (Planning Commission) [group looking into social cohesion and the relationship between central government and local authorities and communities]

Chairman of the Seine-Nord/Seine-Est Association

Chairman of the comité de suivi des rythmes scolaires [committee responsible for reviewing the results of experimental changes in the length of the school day, week, holidays, etc.]

Chairman of the joint fact-finding mission on the decentralization of the Senate.