Gilles Savary (born 6 December 1954) is a French politician who served as Member of the European Parliament for the Île-de-France.
Early life and education Savary holds a master's degree in economics (1975), a postgraduate diploma (DESS) in regional planning (1976) and a postgraduate diploma (DEA) in regional and urban analysis (1977) from the University of Bordeaux.
Early career Savary began his career as an advisor in the cabinets of Philippe Madrelle, president of the Regional Council of Aquitaine, from 1982 to 1985, and later of Jean-Michel Baylet, president of the Tarn-et-Garonne General Council from 1985 to 1987. He followed the latter when he became Secretary of State for Local Authorities at the Ministry of the Interior under minister Pierre Joxe after the 1988 elections. From 1988 to 1992, he was chief of staff to Madrelle, then president of the Departmental Council of Gironde.
From 1992 to 1999, Savary was a visiting lecturer in economics at the Sciences Po Bordeaux.
Political career Leader of the Socialist Group on Bordeaux City Council (1995–2004) Member of the Socialist Party national council (since 1997) Vice-Chairman of the National Federation of Socialist and Republican Elected Representatives (1997–2001) Vice-Chairman of the Aquitaine Regional Council (1998–1999) National responsibility in the Socialist Party for public services (2001–2003) Vice-Chairman of the Gironde Departmental Council (since 2004)
Member of the European Parliament, 1999–2009 As a member of the Socialist Party, Savary served as part of the Party of European Socialists. In parliament, he was vice-chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism (2002–2009) and a member of the temporary committee on improving safety at sea (2003–2004). He was also a substitute for the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.Gilles Savary European Parliament.
In addition to his committee assignments, Savary was a member of the delegations for relations with Iran (2004–2009) and to the parliamentary cooperation committees for relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia (1999–2002). He also chaired the Intergroup on the Sky and Space from 2000 to 2004.Caroline Chaumont (21 July 2004), "Spaced out: ambitions and reality" European Voice.
From 2006, Savary was one of the spokespeople of Ségolène Royal's campaign for the 2007 presidential election, alongside Arnaud Montebourg and Jean-Louis Bianco.Eric Lecluyse (30 August 2006), "Ségolène s'organise" L'Express.Simon Taylor (10 January 2007), French wary over German postal push European Voice.
Member of the National Assembly, 2012–2017 Following the 2012 elections, Savary became the deputy for Gironde's 9th constituency.Gilles Savary National Assembly of France. In parliament, he served on the Committee on Sustainable Development, Spatial and Regional Planning and the Committee on European Affairs.
In addition to his committee assignments, Savary was part of the French-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Group, the French-Polish Parliamentary Friendship Group and the French-Algerian Parliamentary Friendship Group from 2014 to 2017.
When Benoît Hamon won the Socialist Party's primaries to become its candidate for the 2017 presidential elections, Savary and Christophe Caresche wrote an article in Le Monde newspaper saying they could not support him.Marine Pennetier (31 January 2017), "Some leading French Socialists threaten to desert hard-left Hamon" Reuters.
Later career From 2020 to 2021, Savary served as chair of Territories of Progress, a party he had co-founded but eventually left in 2022.Hugo Palacin (17 November 2022), "Territoires de Progrès: en désaccords avec la direction, des membres historiques quittent le parti" Le Journal du Dimanche. He has since been supporting La Convention, a political movement founded by Bernard Cazeneuve.Marion Rivet (9 June 2023), "Bernard Cazeneuve: quel espace politique peut-il espérer pour son nouveau mouvement 'La Convention'?" Le Journal du Dimanche.
Other activities Banque de France, Member of the General Council (since 2020)Nomination de M. Gilles Savary au conseil général de la Banque de France National Assembly of France, press release of 31 July 2020. French transport infrastructure financing agency (AFITF), Member of the Board of Directors (2014–2017) French National Railway Safety Authority (EPSF), Member of the Board of Directors (2012–2017)
Recognition Knight of the Ordre national du Mérite (1999)
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