French representatives, latest elections and video games

[Soldat_Louis]

Due to latest elections in order to renew French Parliament (1st turn : june 10th, 2nd turn : june 17th), I wanted to give you the last news about the French representatives who were involved in video game debate : are they re-elected or not ?

Here they are :

http://permanent.nouvelobs.info/photos/20061019.OBS9594.jpg
Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres :
Notable personal background :
- Born in March 13th, 1954, in Neuilly Sur Seine.
Notable Political background :
- French Culture Minister from 2004 to 2007
- UMP Representative for Indre-et-Loire from 2002 to 2007. Note : UMP is for "Union pour un Mouvement Populaire". It is main French conservative party, created by former President Jacques Chirac and directed by actual President Nicolas Sarkozy until he was elected.
- Town counselor in Tours.
Video game background :
- Active supporter of video game industry.
- Decorated many game designers (Shigeru Miyamoto, Michel Ancel, Frédéric Raynal and Peter Molyneux) as Knights of Arts and Letters.
- Supported an amendment in order to have tax breaks for game industry, proposed by his colleague Patrice Martin-Lalande (see below).
- Even if it's not about video games, RDDV is mostly known and very criticized for supporting the infamous DAVDSI law about copyrights. This law is controversial because it is very restrictive against peer-to-peer softwares and private copy, and indeed, the way RDDV supported it was, in itself, controversial. This law was first rejected, then voted last year.
Election results :
Tried to be re-elected in Indre-et-Loire. Defeated last june 17th with 48,93% votes (against 51,07 % for his opponent)
Significant quotes about video games :
- "Video games are full part of our culture, they require particularly inventive talents, technologically as well as artistically. They belong at the same time to industry and creation".
Personal website : http://www.rddv.com/


http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/tribun/photos/2099.jpg
Patrice Martin-Lalande :
Personal background :
- Born in december 2nd, 1947, in Grenoble.
Political background :
- UMP representative of Loir-et-Cher since 1993.
Video game background :
- In december 8th, 2005, he talked about a tax break for video games. (http://www.patricemartinlalande.net/content/view/730/522/)
- In september 11th, 2006, he organized a colloquium, "Which politics for video games ?" (http://www.patricemartinlalande.net/images/jeux%20vid%C3%A9o%20-%20synth%C3%A8se%20du%20colloque%20du%2011%20septe mbre%202006%20organis%C3%A9%20par%20patrice%20mart in-lalande.pdf) in French Parliament, in order to discuss about political initiatives to support video games and video game industry.
- In december 2006, he drafted and presented an amendment (http://www.patricemartinlalande.net/images/jeux%20vid%C3%A9o%20-%20amendement%20relatif%20au%20cr%C3%A9dit%20d%5C% 27imp%C3%B4t.pdf) in order to have tax breaks for video game industry. This amendment was first rejected, then voted in february 2007.
Election results :
- Tried to be re-elected as representative for Loir-et-Cher. Re-elected with 55,15% voted (against 44,85% for his opponent).
Significant quotes about video games :
- Qualified video games as a "cultural revolution".
Personal website : http://www.patricemartinlalande.net/


http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/tribun/photos/1085.jpg
Bernard Depierre :
Notable Personal background :
- Born in june 6th, 1945 (exactly one year after D-Day in Normandy !!) in Bourbon-Lancy.
Notable Political background :
- UMP representative for Côte-d'Or since 2002.
Video game background :
- In november 2006, after the Italian moral panic over Rule of the Rose, he drafted, supported and presented (with Lionnel Luca and Jacques Rémiller) an amendment in order to ban totally "very violent video games". This amendment was rejected. Details are in this thread. (http://www.gamepoliticsforums.com/showthread.php?t=692) In particular, he inaccurately descripted Rule of the Rose as a rape simulator, but he retracted and apologized after some French gamers contacted him and explained him he was making a big mistake.
- In february 2007, he proposed two amendments in order to regulate "very violent video games", but this time he didn't call for a ban any longer. Details are in this thread. (http://www.gamepoliticsforums.com/showthread.php?t=1525)
Election results :
- Tried to be re-elected as representative for Côte d'Or. Re-elected in june 17th with 55,44% votes (against 44,56% for his opponent).
Significant quotes about video games :
- When he presented his initial amendment : "You randomly shoot people, you slaughter children in schools, you run down pedestrians, you rape, you torture, you slaughter... Here are the games our children play on their computers. (...) The action of the game Rules of Rose [sic] is located into a British boarding school in the 1930's. The goal of the game let appear an unacceptable sadism and perversion : it is about raping a little girl in the most horrible conditions, then killing her with the worst pain. The one who shows the vilest, the most repulsive ignominy, wins the game"
- After being contacted by French gamers : "I wanted to officially point out that the statements about the game RoR were, actually, partially wrong, and consequently I sincerely regret them. There is actually no direct call to rape a teenager in this game. I wanted to precise that I retired all the mentions I had made about it when the information , that contradicted the one given by the EU Commission and its vice-president Mr. Frattini (who gave a particularly alarming description of this game), was confirmed to me. I actually believed that the EU Commission was a serious caution. I was apparently wrong. This being said, you will agree that the ambience of the game was particularly insane and requires the greatest attention and scrutiny, in a context of the protection of the youngest and the most vulnerable people."
- When he presented his new amendment : "Video game is a society phenomenon and a prosperous economic market in which our country has a major place. It is an artistic creation that must be supported. Indeed, because of it, our government decided to give tax breaks in order to support video game creation, therefore giving them a cultural value. But a double statement must be made, by taking care of not assimilating too quickly all video games altogether."
Personal website : http://www.bernard-depierre.com/


http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/tribun/photos/2011.jpg
Lionnel Luca :
Notable personal background :
- Born in december 19th, 1954 in Boulogne-sur-Seine (a.k.a. Boulogne-Billancourt).
- High school teacher in history and economy.
- Professional rugbyman and rugby trainer.
Notable political background :
- UMP Representative for Alpes-Maritimes since 1997.
- Mayor of ViIleneuve-Loubet from 1995 to 2001.
- Supporter of the Dalaï-Lama and the Tibetan cause.
Video game background :
- Drafted and supported in 2002 a law in order to enforce video game ratings and classify some games as "very violent".
- Supported and presented in november 2006 (with Bernard Depierre and Jacques Rémiller) an amendment in order to ban totally "very violent video games". This amendment was rejected.
- Blamed video games among other things after a fight involving high schoolers from the town of Meaux (in december 2006), that caused the death of a 17-years-old boy.
Election results :
- Tried to be re-elected as representatives for Alpes-Maritimes. Re-elected with 63.14% votes in the first turn (june 10th).
Significant quotes about video games :
- About Rule of the Rose : "Raping a 5-years-old girl, making torture scenes, it's ordinary nazism (...) Raping a 7-months-old baby", that's what you read as if it was nothing. And I think that we crossed a new scary threshold in barbarity, and I call it nazism. A nazism that doesn't say its name... but we tolerate it... and there's no freedom for barbarity and shameful acts." (in an interview for French Channel LCI (http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/high-tech/0,,3360677,00-lionnel-luca-face-jeu-rule-rose-.html) in november 27th, 2006).
Personal website : http://www.lionnel-luca.org/


So here are the main French politicians that I know, who got involved in video game debate. I plan to update this thread when I get the chance.

[Soldat_Louis]

And here are more names :

http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/tribun/photos/230329.jpg
Jean-François Lamour :
Notable personal background :
- Born in february 2nd, 1956.
- Olympic champion of fencing in 1984 and 1988.
- World chamion of fencing in 1987.
- Bronze medal in fencing in 1992 Olympic games.
Notable political background :
- UMP representative in Paris since 2007.
- French Minister of Sports, then Youth and Sports, from 2002 to 2007.
Video game background :
- During the colloquium "Which politics for video games ?" that occured in september 2006 in French Parliament, he made a speech (http://www.jeunesse-sports.gouv.fr/accueil_5/ministre_201/discours_220/quelle-politique-pour-les-jeux-video-assemblee-nationale_1121.html) in which he recognized the importance and benefits of video games, while reminding they should not be "modern baby-sitters".
Election results :
- Elected as representative in Paris with 56,74% votes (against 43,26% for his opponent).
Significant quotes about video games :
- "I invite parents to get closely interested in this new hobby for their children, but not to make video games modern-times baby sitter. I invite them to be real partners of public action. Without them, nothing is possible. State can monitor. It can legislate in order to better protect. But it's up to the parents to guarantee good usage of video games. It's up to them to find the compromise between desires and exagerated use (...) I know we can get the best of video games, that they are for all ages an opportunity of exchange, share, pleasure, creation and even solidarity. It is a wonderful creative, innovative and educative opportunity that we shouldn't miss. Our duty is to allow young people to take this opportunity it if they want."
Personal website : http://www.lamour2007.fr/


http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/12/tribun/photos/267662.jpg
Jacques Rémiller :
Personal background :
- Born in April 13th 1941 in Condrieu.
- Retired bank manager.
Notable Political background :
- UMP representative for Isère since 2002.
- Mayor of Vienne (in Isère) since 2001.
- Former mayor of Jardins (in Isère) from 1977 to 2001.
- Regional Counselor for Rhône-Alpes from 1998 to 2002.
Video game background :
- Supported and presented in november 2006 (with Bernard Depierre and Lionnel Luca) an amendment with in order to ban totally "very violent video games".
Election results :
- Tried to be re-elected as representative for Isère. Re-elected last june 17th with 53,51% votes (against 46,49% for his opponent).
Significant quotes about video games : None that I know.
Personal website : None. But you can check his web page in Parliament. (http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/12/tribun/fiches_id/267662.asp)


http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/tribun/photos/267506.jpg
Philippe Vitel :
Notable personal background :
- Born in february 22nd 1955, in Toulon.
- Plastic surgeon.
Notable political background :
- UMP representative for Var department since 2002.
Video game background :
- In 2002, during a discussion about a law proposition related to protection of children against violence and pornography, he blamed the game Counter-Strike for Erfurt massacre (his intervention can be read here (http://www.philippevitel.com/info-FAM_3ebf62b5c20c0S2bLWqh-48.html), in French). In fact, he copy-pasted what was written in a book against media violence.
Election results :
- Tried to be re-elected in the Var. Re-elected with 53,18% votes in the 1st turn (june 10th).
Significant quotes about video games :
- "[the Erfurt shooter was] a great adept of an online game called Counter-Strike, whose goal is to shoot everything that moves into a corridor. Thus, he was joigning the 500 000 people in the world who connect everyday to the Internet server that manages this virtual battlefield."
- "television, cinema, video games, Internet, provide [violent kids] the recipe for harrassment, the guide for violent acts, the 1001 ways to bully their neighbor, to intimidate him, to scare him."
Personal website : http://www.philippevitel.com/


http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/12/tribun/photos/1994.jpg
François Loos :
Personal background :
- Born in december 24th, 1953.
- Engineer.
Political background :
- UMP representative of Bas-Rhin since 1993.
- French Minister of Trade from 2002 to 2005.
- French Minister of Industry from 2005 to 2007.
Video game background :
- Participated in september 2006 to the colloquium "Which politics for video games ?", in which he supported tax credits.
- Asked in 2007 for a study about the state of French video game industry.
Election results :
- Tried to be re-elected as representative of Bas-Rhin. Re-elected with 56,55% votes in the 1st turn (july 10th).
Significant quotes about video games : None that I know.
Personal website : None, but you can check his web page in Parliament (http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/12/tribun/fiches_id/1994.asp)

[Soldat_Louis]

Edit : I added pictures of representatives so that you know what they look like. For each one of them, I attached the picture I found on Parliament web page (the only exception is Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, who's no longer member of parliament : I added a picture found elsewhere).

[BlackIce, British Commie]

It seems the ones that don't like games are doing better than the ones that do.

[TheNova]

It seems the ones that don't like games are doing better than the ones that do.

Of course they are, because video games are the "in" thing to be against these days. If your against video games and piracy then your a shoe-in to get nominated/elected.