This Wednesday, David Soisson announced the death of his father, Jean-Pierre, former minister, deputy for Yonne and mayor of Auxerre, at the age of 89. The former politician, strongman of Burgundy and mayor of Auxerre from 1971 to 1998, “had been battling cancer for many years”.
Former minister, deputy for Yonne and mayor of Auxerre Jean-Pierre Soisson died Tuesday in Auxerre at the age of 89, his family told AFP. “Jean-Pierre Soisson died peacefully, surrounded by his family today late in the afternoon,” said one of his two sons, David Soisson.
A fight against cancer
The former politician, strongman of Burgundy and mayor of Auxerre from 1971 to 1998, “had been battling cancer for many years”, he added. Born on November 9, 1934 in Auxerre, son of an industrialist, Jean-Pierre Soisson entered the government in 1974 as Secretary of State for Universities, then was appointed Minister of Youth, Sports and Leisure (1978-81 ) in the government of Raymond Barre.
In 1988, he joined the government of Michel Rocard as Minister of Labor (1988-1991). Reappointed to the Civil Service by Edith Cresson (1991-1992), he will be Pierre Bérégovoy’s Minister of Agriculture (1992-1993). In 1998, this man with deep local roots who was the strongman of Burgundy was one of the five centrists elected regional presidents thanks to the National Front, a choice which marked his long political career.