Death of Jacques Delors: “A giant”, “builder of our Europe”, “visionary”… The political class reacts


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.

“A huge legacy”

In those of Charles Michel, in particular, President of the European Council who describes him as a “great Frenchman and great European”. And added, also on and concrete, until his last days.

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.

“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.

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”.





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