Dominique de Villepin

Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin (dɔminik də vilpɛ̃; born 14 November 1953) is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 31 May 2005 to 17 May 2007. A career diplomat, Villepin rose through the ranks of the French right as one of Jacques Chirac's protégés. He came into the international spotlight as foreign minister with his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which culminated with a speech to the UN (French address on Iraq at the UN Security Council). Villepin was indicted in connection with the Clearstream affair, but was subsequently cleared of charges of complicity in allowing false accusations to proceed against presidential rival Nicolas Sarkozy regarding bribes paid on a sale of warships to Taiwan. Villepin has enjoyed a modest return to public favour for his public critique of President Sarkozy's style of "imperial rule." He has written poetry, a book about poetry, and several historical and political essays, along with a study of Napoleon Bonaparte. Villepin is an honorary member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.