Francis Mer, former minister of the economy under Jacques Chirac, is dead

Francis Mer, who was Jacques Chirac’s Minister of the Economy between 2002 and 2004, has died, announced Wednesday 1^er November, former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin – information that THE World was able to confirm. He was 84 years old.

“He was exemplary. Uncompromising ethics, complete loyalty, a desire to serve. He loved France. I extend my deepest condolences to his family.”wrote the former head of government on the social network (formerly Twitter). His former colleague in the government Dominique Bussereau welcomed a “great business leader” Who “was a great minister and an exemplary colleague”.

Francis Mer spent most of his professional career at Saint-Gobain (1971-1986), before continuing his career in the French steel industry. From 1986 to 2002, he chaired the French public and then private steel group Usinor, before becoming co-chairman of Arcelor.