17 Facts About Azouz Begag

Azouz Begag was born on 5 February 1957 and is a French writer, politician and researcher in economics and sociology at the CNRS.

Azouz Begag was the delegate minister for equal opportunities of France in the government of French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin till 5 April 2007.

Azouz Begag resigned to support the moderate centrist candidate Francois Bayrou, one of the two UMP ministers to do so.

Azouz Begag is the son of Algerian parents who arrived in France in 1949.

Azouz Begag grew up in a shanty town outside Lyon, "les bas quartiers", before the family progressed to a tower block in the Cite de la Duchere.

Azouz Begag has a doctorate in Economics from Lumiere University Lyon 2.

Azouz Begag has combined the functions of researcher in economy at the CNRS and at the Maison des sciences sociales et humaines of Lyon since 1980 and the one of professor at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon.

Azouz Begag has written approximately 20 literary books for adults and children, as well as songs.

Azouz Begag's best known literary work is the autobiographical novel Le Gone du Chaaba, published in 1986 by Editions du Seuil.

Azouz Begag was minister during the 2005 civil unrest in France.

Azouz Begag confronted Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy on the subject of the policies in the suburbs of Paris.

Azouz Begag publicly opposed Sarkozy in his movie 'Camping a la ferme'.

Azouz Begag was, in October 2005, at the centre of a diplomatic incident between France and the United States.

Azouz Begag, despite being a French citizen, a French minister and holding an A1 diplomatic visa, was intercepted at US immigration in Atlanta airport, saw his diplomatic immunity challenged and was heavily questioned in the green room.

On 16 March 2007, Azouz Begag officially announced his support for the UDF candidate Francois Bayrou.

Azouz Begag resigned from the French government on 5 April 2007.

Azouz Begag is a MoDem regional councillor in the Centre region.