WALDECK-ROUSSEAU, PIERRE-MARIE-ERNEST. – French politician, born on 2 December 1846 in Nantes, died on 10 August 1904 in Paris.
He practised law in St-Nazaire and Rennes; a fervent republican, he was elected to the Chamber in 1879 for the first constituency of Rennes. He belonged to the Union républicaine. His oratorical gifts and his preparation earned him the esteem of Gambetta, who appointed him Minister of the Interior in the “grand ministry” (14 November 1881–26 January 1882). He again held the portfolios of the Interior and Worship in Ferry’s second cabinet for two years (20 February 1883–31 March 1885), and promoted several laws of a social character, including one granting legal recognition to workers’ associations and professional unions. Re-elected to the Chamber in 1885, he temporarily withdrew from public affairs in 1889, returning to the Senate in 1894. The serious crisis caused by the Dreyfus affair (v.) brought W. to the presidency of the Council of Ministers in June 1899, together with the portfolios of the Interior and Worship. Under the pretext of defending the Republic against every threat, he promoted a sectarian policy against religious Orders, and with the law of 1 July 1901 on the contract of association he effectively banished the regular clergy from France. W. remained President of the Council until 3 June 1902.