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PARIS (Reuters) – Jacques Delors, a figure in French and European political life, died on Wednesday at the age of 98, a death which sparked numerous tributes in memory of this “fighter for human justice”, former minister and former president of the European Commission.
Via the social network
“Statesman with a French destiny. Inexhaustible architect of our Europe. Fighter for human justice. Jacques Delors was all of that,” wrote the French president.
“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,” he added.
Jacques Delors was Minister of Economy and Finance from 1981 to 1984, under the first mandate of the socialist François Mitterrand, then President of the European Commission from 1985 to 1995 – a historic longevity at the head of the European executive.
“However far away we may have been, I salute the activist and the man of action who acted with the common good in mind,” reacted the leader of La France insoumise (LFI) Jean-Luc Mélenchon on the platform X, hailing “a socialist of the generation which had an ideal”.
Champion of post-war European rapprochement, Jacques Delors was at the origin of the single market and currency in the community bloc, then undermined by deep differences and budgetary crises.
“Jacques Delors was for many of us, well beyond political divisions, a source of inspiration and a reason to believe in a ‘certain idea’ of politics, of France and of Europe”, said Michel Barnier, former minister and former European commissioner.
The current President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, described a “visionary” of “remarkable intelligence and unparalleled humanity”, recalling that Jacques Delors was at the origin of the single market but also of the Erasmus program for students.
“His presidency of the European Commission was marked by a deep commitment to freedom, social justice and solidarity – values now anchored in our Union,” she said. “His work has had a profound impact on the lives of generations of Europeans, including my own. We are deeply grateful to him.”
(Written by Jean Terzian, edited by Kate Entringer and Bertrand Boucey)
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