Hénin-Beaumont (French pronunciation: [enɛ̃ bomɔ̃]; Picard: Hinnin-Biaumont) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of Franc about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Lens.
History
The commune came into existence in 1970, the result of a merger of the communes of Hénin-Liétard and Beaumont.
During World War I on the night of 3-4 October 1914, the Germans blew up the church of Saint-Martin, which was rebuilt in Greco-Byzantine style in 1932.
In Second World War Hénin-Beaumont was liberated by the Allies, in September 1944.
Politics
In the 2009 election to replace the incumbent Socialist mayor who had resigned after a corruption scandal, the National Front took first place in the first round with 39% of the vote. A left-wing list was second with 20% of the vote. This led all other parties including the center-right Union for a Popular Movement to support the list led by the independent left-wing candidate, Daniel Duquenne in the second round runoff. Duquenne won the race 52%-48%.
In the first round of the 2012 presidential election, Marine Le Pen won in Hénin-Beaumont, with 35% of the vote, ahead of François Hollande (27%) and Nicolas Sarkozy (16%).
In 2014, the far right Front National won control of the city outright. FN politician Steeve Briois was elected mayor with 50.3 percent of the vote.
The town has been noted for its political control swinging from socialist to far-right.
Population
Twin cities
Hénin-Beaumont is twinned with:
See also
- Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department
References
External links
- Hénin-Beaumont website (in French)
- Communauté d'agglomération d'Henin Carvin website (in French)
- The CWGC graves in the communal cemetery
