Paul Coste-Floret

Paul Coste-Floret (9 April 1911 – 27 August 1979) was a French politician. He was born and died in Montpellier, France.

Professor on the faculty of Algiers, he engaged in the French Resistance. He advised André Philip and director of the cabinet of François de Menthon. He was an assistant prosecutor at the Nuremberg Tribunal.

Member of the two constituent national Assemblies, he worked with the second project of the constitution of the French Fourth Republic which was adopted 27 October 1946, then a deputy of the Popular Republican Movement (MRP), then a deputy from Hérault from 1946 to 1958. He worked several times under the Fourth Republic. As minister of the French Overseas Territories he led a policy creating the agreements of Bay of Along in 1949. He modified the law of the Cochinchine which became part of Vietnam. In regards to health he proposed increased family benefits. As a deputy he defended the white growers of Midi. He presented the statute of Algeria in 1957. He recommended greater autonomy for French Black Africa.

Favorable to the political return of General de Gaulle, he is member of the Constitutional Consultative Committee which prepared the Constitution of 1958. He was reelected deputy of the MRP in 1958. He served along with the centrist group until 1967. Named by president of the Senate, Alain Poher, he served the Conseil constitutionnel from 23 February 1971 until his death.

He was a mayor of Lodève and chair Université Montpellier 1 from 1977 to 1979.

Grandson of deputy, he was twin brother of Alfred Coste-Floret, who was also appointed MRP but for Haute-Garonne.

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