Romain Rouillard (with Inès Zeghloul) / Photo credit: MARCEL MOCHET / AFP
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8:22 p.m., December 27, 2023
Former President of the European Commission, but also a former MP and even Minister of the Economy under the presidency of François Mitterrand, Jacques Delors died this Wednesday, at the age of 98. Considered one of the great architects of European construction, he left his mark on the political history of his country, but also that of the Old Continent. Many political figures quickly paid tribute to him.
Emmanuel Macron, first of all, who, in a message published on . His unfailing commitment to a united Europe naturally occupies a central place in the few words that the political class addressed to him this Wednesday evening.
Statesman of French destiny.
Inexhaustible craftsman of our Europe.
Fighter for human justice.Jacques Delors was all of that.
His commitment, his ideals and his righteousness will always inspire us. I salute his work and his memory and share the pain of his loved ones. pic.twitter.com/3D5FBvdduh
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 27, 2023
“A huge legacy”
Jacques Delors led the transformation of the European Economic Community towards a true Union, based on humanist values and supported by a single market and a single currency, the euro.
He was both a passionate and concrete defender of it, until his…
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) December 27, 2023
Ursula von der Leyen, current president of the European Commission, led by Jacques Delors between 1985 and 1995, evokes, for her part, a “visionary” of Europe, also calling for “honoring his heritage”. Olivier Faure, boss of the PS, is also not stingy in his praise for the man he considers “a giant”. “Child of the century, he had experienced the worst and sought to ward off misfortune by building a lasting peace. Through his union, ministerial commitment and finally at the head of Europe, he bequeathed us an immense legacy,” writes -he on X, before sending his “condolences” to his daughter, Martine Aubry, mayor of Lille.
Jacques Delors was a visionary who made our Europe stronger.
His life’s work is a united, dynamic and prosperous European Union.
It has shaped entire generations of Europeans, including mine.
Let us honor his legacy by constantly renewing our Europe.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 27, 2023
A giant has just left us. Child of the century, he had experienced the worst and sought to ward off misfortune by building lasting peace. Through his union, ministerial and finally at the head of Europe, he leaves us an immense legacy. Condolences to @MartineAubryhttps://t.co/K118MahYJO
— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) December 27, 2023
“We owe him a lot”
Joined by Europe 1, Michel Barnier, former European Commissioner and Minister of Foreign Affairs under the presidency of Jacques Chirac, for his part, wants to send his thanks to Jacques Delors for all of his work. “Jacques Delors was a humanist, he was a progressive. I believe he knew that intolerance or sectarianism was proof of weakness. We owe him a lot at the European level and therefore at the French level,” he said. he expresses. Feelings shared by Ségolène Royal who also thanks the person concerned. “You gave us a noble vision of politics, guided by the morality of action. Your commitment from trade unionism, the spirit of fraternity, gave you the strength of a Europe which was close to the people”, she adds.
Also at the head of a European body, in this case the Parliament, Roberta Metsola uses the term “giant” used by Olivier Faure and ensures that “generations of Europeans will continue to benefit from his legacy”. Bruno Le Maire, current Minister of the Economy, highlights “the constancy” of Jacques Delors’ convictions. “He never gave in to any ease of the times. He will have written the double history of France and Europe,” he wrote on X.
With the death of Jacques Delors, the EU loses a giant.
The last honorary citizen of Europe, he worked tirelessly as President of@EU_Commission & member of@Europarl_FRfor a united Europe.
Generations of Europeans will continue to benefit from his legacy. pic.twitter.com/ytPxsojmRq
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) December 27, 2023
Finally, despite his (numerous) political disagreements with Jacques Delors, the rebellious leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon still took up his pen to salute “the activist and the man of action who acted with the common good in mind”.
Jacques Delors was a socialist of the generation which had an ideal. However far away we may have been, I salute the activist and the man of action who acted with the common good in mind.
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) December 27, 2023