# François Fillon > prime minister of France (2007-2012) **Wikidata**: [Q101410](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101410) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/François_Fillon) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/francois-fillon ## Summary François Fillon, born on March 4, 1954, in Le Mans, is a French citizen with occupations as a politician, lawyer, and legislative assistant [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. He received his education at Le Mans University, Paris Descartes University, Château des Perrays, and Sciences Po [12]. Fillon has been married to Penelope Fillon since 1980 .He served as Mayor of Sablé-sur-Sarthe from 1983 to 2001 and was a member of the general council from 1981 to 1998 [13][14]. Fillon was a Senator of the French Fifth Republic in 2004 and a member of the French National Assembly from 2012 to 2017 [15]. His honors include the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, the Order of the Three Stars, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, and the Commander of the French Order of Academic Palms [13][14]. ## Summary François Fillon is a French politician and lawyer who served as Prime Minister of France from 2007 to 2012, making him one of the longest-serving prime ministers in the Fifth Republic. Born on March 4, 1954, he held various senior political positions including roles in the Balladur government (1993) and as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He is married to Penelope Fillon, a British lawyer. He has been recognized with several honors including the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan), and the Order of the Three Stars (Latvia). ## Biography - **Born:** March 4, 1954 - **Nationality:** French (citizenship: France) - **Education:** - Le Mans University (French university based in Le Mans founded in 1977) - Paris Descartes University (French university, 1971-2020) - Sciences Po (higher-education institution in Paris, France, founded in 1872) - Paris Cité University (French public university, 2019-) - Additional institutions: Q3268939, Q859363, Q55849612 - **Known for:** Serving as Prime Minister of France (2007-2012); longest-serving prime minister during the Fifth Republic - **Employer(s):** - Government of the French Republic - Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (since 1949) - Balladur government (24th Government of the French Fifth Republic, inception: March 29, 1993) - **Field(s):** Politics, Law ## Contributions François Fillon's political career spans several decades and includes numerous contributions to French and European politics: 1. **Prime Minister of France (2007-2012):** Served as the head of government under President Nicolas Sarkozy, overseeing significant policy reforms during the European debt crisis. 2. **Parliamentary Service:** Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (inception: May 5, 1949), contributing to international parliamentary cooperation. 3. **Government Roles:** Served in the Balladur government (1993) as part of the 24th Government of the French Fifth Republic. 4. **Legislative Work:** Held positions as a senator (referenced via P1808: senateur/fillon_francois02009s). 5. **Legal Career:** Trained as a lawyer (occupation: Q40348, Q1450482), complementing his political career. ## FAQs **What positions has François Fillon held in the French government?** François Fillon served as Prime Minister of France from 2007 to 2012, making him one of the longest-serving prime ministers in the Fifth Republic. He previously held positions in the Balladur government in 1993 and served as a senator. **What is François Fillon's educational background?** François Fillon studied at several prestigious French institutions including Le Mans University, Paris Descartes University, Sciences Po, and Paris Cité University. He also received legal training, working as a lawyer. **What honors and awards has François Fillon received?** François Fillon has been awarded the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (France), the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan, 2003), and the Order of the Three Stars (Latvia, established 1924). **Who is François Fillon married to?** François Fillon is married to Penelope Fillon, a British lawyer who has practiced law in both the UK and France. **What international organizations has François Fillon been affiliated with?** François Fillon has been a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since its inception in 1949, contributing to European parliamentary cooperation and human rights monitoring. ## Why They Matter François Fillon matters as a pivotal figure in contemporary French politics who navigated France through one of the most challenging economic periods in modern history. As Prime Minister from 2007 to 2012, he oversaw economic reforms during the global financial crisis and European debt crisis, implementing austerity measures that shaped France's economic policy for years to come. His tenure represented a significant period of the Sarkozy presidency, and his leadership style influenced the direction of the centre-right political movement in France. His international engagement through the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe demonstrated France's commitment to European cooperation and human rights standards. The combination of his legal background and political expertise made him a distinctive figure in French governance, bridging the worlds of law and policy-making. Without François Fillon's leadership, France's response to the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent European debt crisis would have taken a different form. His economic policies, including labour market reforms and spending cuts, became defining features of that era's political discourse and influenced subsequent governments' approaches to economic management. ## Notable For - **Longest-serving Prime Minister:** One of the longest-serving prime ministers in the Fifth Republic of France (2007-2012) - **Council of Europe:** Active member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - **International Recognition:** Recipient of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) and the Order of the Three Stars (Latvia) - **French Honour:** Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, France's highest order of merit - **Legal Background:** Trained lawyer who practiced law alongside his political career - **Educational Credentials:** Graduate of elite French institutions including Sciences Po and Paris Descartes University - **Senatorial Career:** Long-standing member of the French Senate - **Cross-Channel Connection:** Married to British lawyer Penelope Fillon ## Body ### Early Life and Education François Charles Amand Fillon was born on March 4, 1954. He pursued higher education at several prestigious French institutions, beginning his academic journey at Le Mans University, which was founded in 1977. He continued his studies at Paris Descartes University (1971-2020), one of the major public universities in Paris. Additionally, he attended Sciences Po, the renowned higher-education institution in Paris founded in 1872, and later Paris Cité University (established in 2019). His educational background also includes studies at other institutions identified as Q3268939, Q859363, and Q55849612 in the source material. ### Legal Career Before entering full-time politics, François Fillon trained as a lawyer, qualifying as a legal professional (occupation codes Q40348 and Q1450482). This legal training provided him with the analytical and rhetorical skills that would later benefit his political career. His wife, Penelope Fillon, is also a lawyer—specifically a British lawyer—with citizenship in both the United Kingdom and France. ### Political Career #### Early Political Involvement Fillon's political career began to take shape in the 1990s. He served in the Balladur government, which was the 24th Government of the French Fifth Republic, with an inception date of March 29, 1993. This early government experience positioned him for higher offices in subsequent years. #### Prime Minister of France (2007-2012) François Fillon's most prominent role came when he was appointed Prime Minister of France in 2007, serving until 2012. This period coincided with the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. During his tenure, France faced significant challenges including the 2008 global financial crisis and the subsequent European debt crisis. Fillon was responsible for implementing economic policies, including austerity measures and structural reforms aimed at addressing France's fiscal situation. His tenure as Prime Minister made him one of the longest-serving prime ministers in the Fifth Republic, a testament to his political durability and the confidence placed in him by the president. #### Parliamentary Activities Beyond his executive role, Fillon maintained an active parliamentary career. He served as a senator, as evidenced by his reference in senatorial records (senateur/fillon_francois02009s). His parliamentary work allowed him to influence legislation and policy at the legislative level. ### International Engagement #### Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Fillon has been a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which was established on May 5, 1949. The Council of Europe is distinct from the European Union and focuses on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across the European continent. His involvement in this assembly demonstrates France's commitment to European parliamentary cooperation and international standards of governance. ### Awards and Honors François Fillon has received several prestigious honors recognizing his service to France and his contributions to international relations: - **Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour:** The fourth rank of France's highest order of merit, recognizing his distinguished service to the French nation. - **Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun:** Awarded by Japan in 2003, this honour recognizes his contributions to strengthening Franco-Japanese relations. - **Order of the Three Stars:** Latvia's honorary order, established on March 25, 1924, awarded for his service to Latvia and international cooperation. ### Personal Life François Fillon is married to Penelope Fillon, a British lawyer who holds dual citizenship in the United Kingdom and France. Their cross-channel partnership represents a notable connection between British and French legal and political circles. ### Professional Identification François Fillon is identified by numerous professional identifiers across various databases: - **Wikidata ID:** Q101410 - **IMDb ID:** nm1830730 - **Twitter:** @FrancoisFillon - **Facebook:** francois.fillon - **Various library and authority identifiers** including GND, Library of Congress, BNF, and VIAF numbers His Wikipedia article is titled "François Filling" and his Wikidata description specifically notes his role as "prime minister of France (2007-2012)." The substantial number of identifiers across different systems reflects his prominence and the need for accurate disambiguation in international databases. ### Legacy and Influence François Fillon's legacy includes his stewardship of France during a critical economic period, his commitment to Franco-European institutions, and his role in shaping centre-right politics in France. His economic policies during the crisis years influenced the trajectory of French economic policy and served as a reference point for subsequent governments. His legal background brought a particular approach to policy-making that emphasized procedural correctness and institutional frameworks. His international honours reflect recognition from both European and Asian partners, underscoring his role in maintaining France's position as a key player in global affairs. The Order of the Rising Sun from Japan and the Order of Three Stars from Latvia demonstrate the breadth of his diplomatic engagement beyond traditional European partnerships. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. BnF authorities 3. [Source](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17484121) 4. [Source](http://www.nndb.com/gov/732/000051579/) 5. [Source](http://www.lepoint.fr/tags/francois-fillon) 6. [Source](http://www.hatvp.fr/livraison/dossiers/fillon-francois-dia-depute-75.pdf) 7. [Source](http://rue89.nouvelobs.com/2011/06/27/le-dossier-scolaire-du-cancre-fillon-sur-dun-echec-211143) 8. [Source](https://www.workwithdata.com/person/francois-fillon-1954) 9. pace.coe.int 10. [Source](http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2013/05/07/97001-20130507FILWWW00524-francois-fillon-va-etre-decore-par-le-japon.php) 11. [Source](https://www.fr.emb-japan.go.jp/actualite/2013/deco_FFillon.html) 12. International Standard Name Identifier 13. [Source](http://www.gouvernement.fr/francois-fillon) 14. [Source](http://www.nndb.com/lists/498/000063309/) 15. Sycomore 16. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 17. GeneaStar 18. Roglo 19. Babelio 20. Who's Who in France 21. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 22. [Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2017/article/2016/11/21/francois-fillon-la-revanche-tant-attendue-de-mister-nobody_5034893_4854003.html) 23. [Source](https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/france/170625/pas-de-prison-ferme-l-addition-finale-est-allegee-pour-francois-fillon) 24. 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