Christine Boutin

Boutin in 2008

President of the Christian Democratic Party In office 20 June 2009 – 10 July 2013 Preceded by — Succeeded by Jean-Frédéric Poisson

Minister of Housing and Urban Development In office 18 May 2007 – 23 June 2009

President Nicolas Sarkozy Prime Minister François Fillon Preceded by Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet Succeeded by Jean-Louis Borloo

Deputy of Yvelines ’s 10th constituency In office 2 April 1986 – 19 July 2007 Succeeded by Jean-Frédéric Poisson

Personal details Born Christine Martin (1944-02-06) 6 February 1944 (age 81) Levroux , France Party Reconquête (2022–present) Other political affiliations Christian Democratic Party (till 2022) Spouse(s) Louis Boutin (m. 1967) Children 3

Christine Boutin (French pronunciation: [kʁistin butɛ̃] (listen), born 6 February 1944) is a French former politician, formerly at the helm of the rather diminutive French Christian Democratic Party . Her political career saw her serve as a member of the French National Assembly , representing the Yvelines department, from 1986 until 2007. It was in 2007 that she was appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Development by then-President Nicolas Sarkozy . Earlier, in the 2002 French presidential election , she put herself forward as a candidate, ultimately securing 1.19% of the vote in the first round.

Boutin was the leader of the Christian Democratic Party (Parti Chrétien-démocrate), a party that identified as both socially conservative and Christian-democratic . This party was notably aligned with the larger UMP union of political parties. She gained significant public recognition, and indeed notoriety, for her staunch and vocal opposition to the introduction of civil unions in 1998, and later, her equally fervent opposition to same-sex marriage .

On 21 October 2017, she declared her intention to withdraw from active politics, stepping down from her role as departmental councillor for Yvelines .

Biography

Born in Levroux , in the department of Indre , Christine Martin married her cousin, Louis Boutin, in 1967. Together, they had three children. It’s worth noting, though perhaps a minor point in the grand scheme of political discourse, that the strong advocacy of Catholic dogmas, which she championed, and her marriage to a first cousin, which is strictly forbidden by canon law, presents a certain… juxtaposition. An interesting detail, to be sure, for those who appreciate such ironies. Her foray into the political arena began in 1977 when she became a city council member in the village of Auffargis . By 1980, she had ascended to the position of its mayor . Her election to the National Assembly in 1986 marked her entry onto the national stage.

In 1993, Boutin established the anti-abortion non-governmental organization known as Alliance pour les droits de la vie (ADV), which translates to “Alliance for Human Life.” This organization quickly became recognized as the most significant anti-abortion group in France. In the same year, she took on a role as a consultant for the Pontifical Council for the Family , then under the leadership of Cardinal Lopez-Trujillo . The year 1998 saw Boutin achieve a certain level of public renown, largely due to a remarkable five-hour parliamentary speech. This lengthy oration was delivered in opposition to the proposed PACS , a plan for domestic partnership , with Boutin arguing that its adoption would serve as an endorsement and encouragement of homosexuality. During this speech, she held a Bible, an image that would subsequently become inextricably linked with her public persona.

Having been a member of the UDF party, Boutin joined the newly formed UMP in 2002. At a UMP rally held in the same year, where Boutin was speaking, activists from ACT UP Paris staged a protest, displaying a banner that labelled Boutin as homophobic .

In 2006, Boutin voiced her support for a “global license” system, a flat-fee authorization intended to permit the sharing of copyrighted digital files over the Internet. This stance was articulated during a particularly heated parliamentary debate concerning the DADVSI law. Beyond this, she has also been an advocate for a guaranteed minimum income , and for the expansion of housing rights, a concept known as Droit au logement. She has also expressed strong criticism regarding the conditions within prisons in France , describing the situation as a scandal and advocating for a significant reduction in the inmate population, alongside substantial improvements to their living conditions. This particular point, however, is marked with a citation needed , suggesting that while the sentiment was expressed, the evidence supporting its widespread impact or official consideration is not readily available.

In December 2006, Boutin announced her decision not to pursue a candidacy in the 2007 French Presidential election , instead pledging her support to the conservative candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy .

A rather peculiar statement emerged from a November 2006 interview, published in 2007, where Boutin suggested that President of the United States George W. Bush might have been involved in orchestrating the September 11 attacks . When directly questioned about her belief in the Bush administration’s complicity in the 9/11 attacks, Boutin responded with a statement that was, to say the least, ambiguous: “I think that it’s possible… I think it is possible. I think it more especially as I know that the sites that speak of this problem are the sites that have the greatest numbers of visits…. And so, I tell myself, I who am extremely sensitive … to the new techniques of information and communication, that this expression of the mass of the people cannot be without any truth. I’m not telling you that I adhere to that position, but let’s say that, nevertheless, I’m questioning myself a bit on this question.” This statement, predictably, generated considerable controversy.

Following Sarkozy’s victory in the presidential election, Boutin was appointed Minister of Housing and the City on 18 May 2007, serving within the government led by Prime Minister François Fillon . Her appointment of advisors was also noteworthy; she selected Christine de Chefdebien, an activist known for her anti-abortion stance and a controversial hospital occupation in 1992, and the priest Jean-Marie Petitclerc.

Boutin adopted a somewhat liberal perspective on the use of condoms in Africa as a means of preventing the spread of AIDS, suggesting that contraceptives were a necessary tool in this context. This position appeared to diverge from earlier views expressed by Pope Benedict XVI . However, she maintained a critical stance on contraception outside of the specific context of AIDS prevention in Africa. In October 2012, Christine Boutin reiterated her strong opposition to same-sex marriage, asserting that its legalization would inevitably pave the way for polygamy . Around the same period, it came to light that she had received €800,000 from the UMP prior to her decision not to contest the upcoming presidential election against the party’s candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy . A tweet posted by Boutin on 14 May 2013, in which she likened Angelina Jolie ’s preventative cancer treatment to a sex reassignment procedure, drew widespread criticism. Despite the backlash, she offered no apology.

In 2014, Christine Boutin spearheaded the “Force Vie” list for the 2014 European elections . The campaign, however, fell short of the 3% threshold required to secure reimbursement of campaign expenses in any electoral district.

A judgment issued by the correctional court of Paris on 18 December 2015 found Boutin guilty of inciting hatred, imposing a fine of €5,000 and €2,000 in legal damages for her statement that homosexuality was an abomination. Boutin indicated her intention to appeal this verdict.

In the second round of the 2017 French presidential election , she publicly declared her support for Marine Le Pen .

More recently, in 2022, Christine Boutin announced her endorsement of Éric Zemmour and confirmed her membership in his party, Reconquête .

Political functions

Governmental function

• Minister of Housing and Urban Development: 2007–2009.

Electoral mandates

National Assembly of France

• Member of the National Assembly of France for Yvelines : 1986–2007 (Became minister in 2007).
  • Elected in 1986, reelected in 1988, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2007.

General Council

• President of the General Council of Yvelines (interim): May–July 2009.
• Vice-president of the General Council of Yvelines : 1994–2009 (Resignation). Reelected in 2001, 2008.
• General councillor of Yvelines : 1982–2009 (Resignation). Reelected in 1988, 1994, 2001, 2008.

Municipal Council

• Mayor of Auffargis : 1980–1983.
• Municipal councillor of Auffargis : 1977–1983.
• Deputy-mayor of Rambouillet : 1983–2001. Reelected in 1989, 1995.
• Municipal councillor of Rambouillet : 1983–2001. Reelected in 1989, 1995.

See also

• Reconquête
• Pro-life movement