Legislative: doctors engaged in the battle

There are about thirty of them in the National Assembly. Parliamentary doctors, practitioners converted into politics. General practitioners, neurologists, pulmonologists, hepatologists … Most are liberal, some from the hospital. From the 3^e Republic, doctors have their quarters in Parliament, where they draw up laws and participate in discussions. This Sunday, in the first round of legislative elections, The Republic in March, made up according to the estimates of a third of candidates “novices” in politics, will propose in its lists about twenty doctors. The other parties will do the same, in different proportions.

It is because the medical figure has long imprinted French politics. But the image of the “notable doctor” has gradually faded and over the years and the legislatures, the number of medical parliamentarians has considerably reduced. Patrick Hassenteufel, university professor in political science, discusses the reasons for this phenomenon.

Traditionally, doctors were numerous in the National Assembly. Why ?

Patrick Hassenteufel – Under the 3^e Republic, before the First World War, doctors represented 10 to 12% of deputies, a high proportion. It was the most represented profession, behind lawyers and lawyers, who were then three times more numerous.

This strong representativeness is linked to the role of these doctors, local notables who also had a strong Republican commitment. These doctors were then more on the left, on the side of the radicals, the laity. They were involved in the hygiene movement, faced important public health issues. The political dimension was almost part of their professional practice. We remember in particular a vote considered very divisive: the rupture of diplomatic relations with the Vatican at the end of the 19th century. The deputies-doctors had voted overwhelmingly in favor of breaking these relations.

Things change in the interwar period. There are a little less medical parliamentarians, even if their proportion remains high. But above all, we are witnessing a shift to the right, or even to the extreme right, of their commitment. This is linked to the evolution of medical unionism, with a strong emphasis on liberal medicine then, in the 1930s, the theme of the rejection of foreign or Jewish doctors, of the closure of the profession, of the demand for a Professional order… This is also felt by the medical parliamentarians.

Our time has seen the decline of parliamentary physicians. What do we owe this to?

Patrick Hassenteufel – It is a relative decline: under the Fifth Republic, doctors still represent 7% of deputies. This decrease in the proportion refers to the greater socio-professional diversity of political representation, with the rise in power of parliamentarians from the senior civil service, and the technocratization of politics.

But they remain fairly well represented. In fact, there are variations depending on the color of the majority. When she is on the right, there are more deputies-doctors than when she is on the left, which is linked to the political commitment of the profession, rather on the right. For example, during the broad victories of the right in 1986 and 1993, there were 50 doctor-deputies. Ditto in the recent period: in 1997, after the victory of the left, there were only 23 deputies-doctors while in 2002, there were 42. In 2007, 41 doctors were represented, but in 2012, more than 28.

We can say that there is relative stability, but it is true that the locally elected doctors, in particular the doctor-mayors, numerous under the 3^e and 4^e Republic, are now rarer. This is related to the decline of the notable doctor figure. Today, doctors who engage as members of parliament are gradually becoming political professionals and, at some point in their careers, give priority to their political activities.

Listen…

The entire interview with Patrick Hassenteufel, political scientist

The major health scandals – Mediator or contaminated blood… – have they been able to influence the voters’ vote?

Patrick Hassenteufel: In general, the figure of the doctor has lost legitimacy, especially since the 1980s with, indeed, the contaminated blood affair and other cases of various nature which may have involved members of the profession.

This does not translate very clearly into parliamentary representation, but this phenomenon can play out at the local level. In any case, unlike 3 and 4^e Republic where doctors could really highlight this professional affiliation as an element of legitimacy, under the 5^e Republic, it plays less.