Jean-Christophe Cambadélis (born 14 August 1951) is a French politician of the Socialist Party (PS) who served as the party's First Secretary from April 2014 to June 2017. He was a member of the National Assembly of France, representing the city of Paris, as a member of the Socialist, Republican & Citizen.
Early life and education Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Cambadélis is of Greek ancestry.
Political career Early beginnings Cambadélis gained clout within the Socialist Party in the 1980s when he helped former President François Mitterrand seek re-election, later growing close to former Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.Brian Love (15 April 2014), French Socialists pick veteran to run party after poll rout Reuters.
Member of the National Assembly, 1997–2017 In parliament, Cambadélis served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs (1998–2017) and the Committee on Economic Affairs (2008–2009).Jean-Christophe Cambadélis National Assembly of France. In addition to his committee assignments, he was part of the French-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Group.Jean-Christophe Cambadélis National Assembly of France.
Amid the MNEF affair in 2006, Cambadélis was found guilty along with several other Socialists of having used a student mutual fund for political purposes and given a suspended jail sentence and a fine of 20 000 euros.Brian Love (15 April 2014), French Socialists pick veteran to run party after poll rout Reuters.
When Martine Aubry took over as leader of the Socialist Party in 2008, Cambadélis became the party’s national spokesperson for international affairs.Nicolas Barotte (2 January 2009), Au sein de la direction du PS, Martine Aubry compte plus d'alliés que de proches Le Figaro. In 2011, he endorsed Aubry as the party’s candidate for the 2012 presidential elections.Romain Parlier (30 June 2011), France: Moscovici Backs Hollande for Socialists New York Times.
Chair of the Socialist Party, 2014–2017 In 2014, Cambadélis was elected by the Socialist Party’s national congress to replace Harlem Désir, weeks after municipal elections in which the party lost dozens of towns to the right and far-right opposition.Brian Love (15 April 2014), French Socialists pick veteran to run party after poll rout Reuters.
During his time in office, Cambadélis announced the party’s first-ever two-round left-wing primary to decide on its candidate for the 2017 presidential elections, allowing challengers to incumbent President François Hollande.Nicholas Vinocur (19 June 2016), François Hollande to face left-wing primary test New York Times.
Citing the urgency of the fight against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, Cambadélis endorsed Emmanuel Macron ahead of the presidential elections.Pierre Briançon (1 May 2017), French Socialists fast headed for split Politico Europe. He lost his seat in parliament in the legislative elections shortly after.Alissa J. Rubin (12 June 2017), For Macron’s Party in France, Success Is Broad. But How Deep? New York Times. He subsequently resigned as the party’s chairman.Alissa J. Rubin, Aurelien Breeden and Benoît Morenne (18 June 2017), Emmanuel Macron’s Party and Allies Win Big in France New York Times.
Later career Ahead of the Socialist Party’s 2018 convention in Aubervilliers, Cambadélis publicly endorsed Olivier Faure as candidate for the party’s leadership.Pierre Lepelletier (7 March 2018), Congrès du PS : qui soutient qui ? Le Figaro.
When the Socialist Party agreed with the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) to run together in the parliamentary elections in an effort to deprive re-elected President Emmanuel Macron of a majority, Cambadélis called on fellow members to block the deal, arguing it could mark the end of a pro-EU force on the left.Elizabeth Pineau, Michel Rose and Ingrid Melander (4 May 2022), French left agrees rare coalition deal to take on Macron Reuters.
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