Jacques Attali - Political Career

Political Career

In 1970, when he was 27, he became a member of the Council of State. In 1972, he published his first two books, Analyse économique de la vie politique and Modèles politiques, for which he was awarded with a prize from the Academy of Sciences.

He taught economics from 1968 at the Paris Dauphine University, at the École polytechnique and at the École des Ponts et chaussées.

His network comprises several young researchers : Yves Stourdzé (who ran the European research program Eurêka invented by Jacques Attali) and Erik Orsenna, but also leading figures in various fields (journalism, mathematics, show business, financial analysis …).

In 1979, he founded the international NGO Action contre la Faim (ACF).

His close collaboration with François Mitterrand began in December 1973, and led his campaign for presidential elections in 1974 and 1981. In 1981, François Mitterrand, after he was elected President, named him as his special adviser. From this moment on, Jacques Attali wrote, each evening, notes for the attention of the French President, which dealt with economics, culture, politics or the last book he read. The President also entrusted him with the role of « sherpa » (personal representative of a head of State) for the G7 summits.

Jacques Attali then enlarged his circle of acquaintances to Raymond Barre, Jacques Delors, Philippe Séguin, Jean-Luc Lagardère, Antoine Riboud, Michel Serres, Coluche. He advised the President to get Jean-Louis Bianco, Alain Boublil and several young, promising graduates from the École nationale d’administration (like François Hollande and Ségolène Royal) to join his team.

In 1982, he pleaded for « economic rigour ». As "sherpa" of Mitterrand during 10 years, he organised the Paris G7 summit in 1982. In 1984, he launched the European program Eurêka, dedicated to the « development of new technologies ». He organised the bicentennial of the French Revolution of July 14, 1789. In 1989, he initiated an international plan of action against the disastrous flooding in Bangladesh.

Jacques Attali has always been in favor of the creation of a global government, and his arguments tend to demonstrate that the constitution of a new world order is essential to maintain democracy. He thinks that the regulation of the economy by a global financial institution can be a solution to the financial crisis which started in 2007. This institution would be a first step towards the institution of a global government, of which the European Union is an illustration.