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Hubert Védrine

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Hubert Yves Pierre Védrine (French pronunciation: [ybɛʁ vedʁin]; born 31 July 1947) is a French retired senior civil servant and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2002. A member of the Socialist Party (PS), he was an advisor and later secretary general at the Élysée under President François Mitterrand. Following his retirement from politics, Védrine became an advisor at Moelis & Company.

Hubert Védrine
Védrine in 2006
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
4 June 1997 – 6 May 2002
Prime MinisterLionel Jospin
Preceded byHervé de Charette
Succeeded byDominique de Villepin
Secretary General to the President of France
In office
17 May 1991 – 17 May 1995
PresidentFrançois Mitterrand
Preceded byJean-Louis Bianco
Succeeded byDominique de Villepin
Spokesperson of the President
In office
24 May 1988 – 17 May 1991
PresidentFrançois Mitterrand
Preceded byMichèle Gendreau-Massaloux
Succeeded byJean Musitelli
Diplomatic advisor to the President
In office
24 May 1981 – 23 May 1988
PresidentFrançois Mitterrand
Preceded byJacques Blot
Succeeded byJean Musitelli
Personal details
Born
Hubert Yves Pierre Védrine

(1947-07-31) 31 July 1947 (age 77)
Saint-Silvain-Bellegarde, France
Political partySocialist Party
Alma materSciences Po
École nationale d'administration

Early life and career

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Following a history degree and graduating from both Sciences Po and ENA, Védrine had toyed with the idea of entering journalism but, on the advice of the historian and family friend Jean Lacouture, instead took a post at the culture ministry.[1]

Védrine was one of the longest-serving aides to a French President and worked closely with President François Mitterrand from 1981 to 1995. Védrine served first as Mitterrand's diplomatic advisor (the French equivalent of the National Security Advisor) from 1981 to 1988, then as Mitterrand's spokesperson from 1988 to 1991, and finally as Secretary-General of the French presidency (the equivalent of the White House Chief of Staff) from 1991 to 1995.

Védrine then served as Foreign Minister of France from 1997 to 2002 in the government of Lionel Jospin.[2]

After the re-election of Jacques Chirac in May 2002, Védrine was replaced by Dominique de Villepin. All three men were characterised by their strong opposition to unilateral action by the United States in Iraq.

Védrine popularized the neologism hyperpower to describe what he saw as the historically-unparalleled influence and might that were held by the United States at the turn of the century.[3]

Later career

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In 2003, Védrine founded Hubert Vedrine Conseil, a consulting firm.

In 2005, he was appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a member of the High Council for the Alliance of Civilizations, an initiative that seeks to galvanize international action against extremism through intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation.

He took part in 2007 on the committee preparing the Paris Conference on the Environment to lay the foundations for a future United Nations Environment Organization.

Védrine is the author of more than 19 books, two of them having been translated in English by Philip H. Gordon: France in an age of globalization, co-authored with Dominique Moïsi (publisher: Brookings Institution Press, 2001) and History strikes back : how states, nations, and conflicts are shaping the twenty-first century (publisher: Brookings Institution Press, 2008), co-authored with Adrien Abecassis and Mohamed Bouabdallah.

Around the 2017 elections, news media reported that later President Emmanuel Macron sought regularly the advice of Védrine on foreign policy issues.[4] In 2020, he was appointed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to join a group of experts to support his work in a reflection process to further strengthen NATO's political dimension.[5]

Other activities

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Corporate boards

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  • Amundi, Chairman of the Global Advisory Board (since 2016)[6]
  • Moelis & Company, Member of the Global Advisory Board (since 2011)
  • Richard Attias and Associates, Member of the International Advisory Board[7]
  • LVMH, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (since 2009)[8]
  • Ipsos, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (2009–2015)

Non-profit organizations

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Political positions

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In February 2020, Védrine joined around fifty former European prime ministers and foreign ministers in signing an open letter published by British newspaper The Guardian to condemn U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, saying it would create an apartheid-like situation in occupied Palestinian territory.[14]

Recognition

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Ribbon bar Country Honour
  Italy Grand Officier of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic[15]
  Moldova Grand Officier of the Order of Work Glory[16]
  Monaco Grand Officier of the Order of Saint-Charles[17]
  Poland Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland[16]
  Portugal Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry[18]
  Romania Grand Officier of the Order of the Star of Romania[16]

References

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  1. ^ Man of the minutiae European Voice, 23 July 1997.
  2. ^ a b "United Nations – Alliance of Civilizations – Mr. Hubert Védrine (France)". Alliance of Civilizations. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  3. ^ "To Paris, U.S. Looks Like a 'Hyperpower'". The New York Times. 5 February 1999. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  4. ^ Ben Judah (8 May 2017), Emmanuel Macron's foreign policy doctrine(s) Politico Europe.
  5. ^ Secretary General appoints group as part of NATO reflection process NATO, press release of 31 March 2020.
  6. ^ Amundi creates a Global Advisory Board with world-renowned experts in global economic and political issues Amundi, press release of 31 May 2016.
  7. ^ International Advisory Board Archived 4 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine Richard Attias and Associates.
  8. ^ Board of Directors LVMH.
  9. ^ Board of Directors Archived 27 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine Rencontres d'Arles.
  10. ^ Strategic Committee France China Foundation.
  11. ^ Board of Directors French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS).
  12. ^ Strategic Committee Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA).
  13. ^ "Senior Network". www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  14. ^ Grave concern about US plan to resolve Israel-Palestine conflict The Guardian, 27 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana".
  16. ^ a b c "Page auteur Michel Fuzellier - Lirici | Bibliothèques de Dinan Agglomération". Lirici.dinan-agglomeration.fr. 15 December 1944. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Ordonnance Souveraine n° 13.149 du 25 juillet 1997 portant promotion ou élévation à la dignité de Grand Officier de l'Ordre de Saint-Charles". 25 July 1997. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  18. ^ "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas".
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs
1997–2002 		Succeeded by
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