[1] Christian was the oldest son of Pierre Bonnet and Suzanne Delebecque.

[2] His grandfather, Charles Bonnet, married Claire Vaillant de Guélis, related to François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois.

He was chairman of the supervisory commission of Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations from 1971 to 1972.

He was appointed Minister of the Interior on 30 March 1977, following the resignation of Michel Poniatowski.

His notable events in office include the arrest of Jacques Mesrine and the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing.