Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Raon-l'Étape, Grand Est, France
About Alain Devaquet
- Alain Devaquet (4 October 1942 – 19 January 2018) was a French politician who was a minister under Jacques Chirac. A university professor before embarking on his political career with the Rally for the Republic, Devaquet was given the role of junior minister for universities.
- In this role he became the public face of a controversial proposal to reform the higher education system in 1986, the proposals becoming known as the Devaquet Law, despite originating from more senior members of the government.
- The plan essentially focused on allowing universities to be more selective in the admission of students and to charge fees.
- The reaction against the proposals was strong, with mass protests by students and some strikes in support of their opposition.
- With the mobilisation of students also closely linked to other proposals aimed at tightening immigration laws, things came to a head with the death of Malik Oussekine, a student protester who died in police custody on 6 December 1986 and whose death prompted mass outpouring of anger.
- The law was withdrawn two days later and Devaquet was forced to resign, although the incident proved a strong blow to the government and enhanced the profile of François Mitterrand due to his opposition.
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