Alain Devaquet

{{Short description|French politician (1942–2018)}} {{expand French|Alain Devaquet|date=February 2014|topic=gov}} {{infobox officeholder | name = Alain Devaquet | office = Minister of Higher Education and Research | term_start = 20 March 1986 | term_end = 8 December 1986 | president = François Mitterrand | prime_minister = Jacques Chirac | predecessor = Hubert Curien | successor = Jacques Valade | office2 = Mayor of the 11th arrondissement of Paris | term_start2 = 1983 | term_end2 = 1995 | successor2 = Georges Sarre | office3 = Member of the National Assembly<br>for Paris's 7th constituency | term_start3 = 1988 | term_end3 = 1997 | predecessor3 = ''New constituency'' | successor3 = Patrick Bloche | birth_date = {{birth date|1942|10|04|df=yes}} | birth_place = Raon-l'Étape, France | death_date = {{death date and age|2018|01|19|1942|10|04|df=yes}} | death_place = Villejuif, France | party = RPR | alma_mater = École normale supérieure de Saint-Cloud }}

'''Alain Devaquet''' (4 October 1942 – 19 January 2018)<ref>{{cite web |title=L'ex-ministre RPR Alain Devaquet est mort |url=http://www.liberation.fr/france/2018/01/21/l-ex-ministre-rpr-alain-devaquet-est-mort_1624099 |publisher=Libération |language=French}}</ref> was a French politician who was a minister under Jacques Chirac. A university professor before embarking on his political career with the Rally for the Republic, Devaquet was given the role of junior minister for universities. In this role he became the public face of a controversial proposal to reform the higher education system in 1986, the proposals becoming known as the Devaquet Law, despite originating from more senior members of the government.<ref>David S. Bell, ''Presidential Power in Fifth Republic France'', Berg, 2000, p. 181</ref> The plan allowed universities to be more selective in the admission of students and to charge fees.<ref>Andrew Knapp, Vincent Wright, ''The Government and Politics of France'', Routledge, 2006, p. 324</ref>

The reaction against the proposals was strong, with mass protests by students and some strikes in support of their opposition.<ref>John Speller, ''Bourdieu and Literature'', Open Book Publishers, 2011, p. 164</ref> With the mobilisation of students also closely linked to other proposals aimed at tightening immigration laws, things came to a head with the death of Malik Oussekine, a student bystander who died in police custody on 6 December 1986 and whose death prompted mass outpouring of anger.<ref>Anne Sa'adah, ''Contemporary France: A Democratic Education'', Rowman & Littlefield, 2003, p. 219</ref> The law was withdrawn two days later and Devaquet was forced to resign, although the incident proved a strong blow to the government and enhanced the profile of François Mitterrand due to his opposition.<ref>Bell, ''Presidential Power in Fifth Republic France'', p. 182</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.liberation.fr/cahier-special/1999/07/21/alain-devaquet-l-ancien-ministre-rpr-prodigue-ses-conseils-a-l-elysee_279346 Liberation article about him]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devaquet, Alain}} Category:1942 births Category:2018 deaths Category:People from Vosges (department) Category:Politicians from Grand Est Category:Rally for the Republic politicians Category:Government ministers of France Category:Deputies of the 6th National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic Category:Deputies of the 9th National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic Category:Deputies of the 10th National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic Category:ENS Fontenay-Saint-Cloud-Lyon alumni Category:Academic staff of École polytechnique Category:Deaths from cancer in France