"Patrick Devedjian was a passionate, whole, sincere, committed man. He embodied politics as I like him, with feelings, convictions, panache. I am proud to have had him by my side," wrote l former head of state on Twitter.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy praised the "panache" of his former minister Patrick Devedjian, the first political official to die of the coronavirus, on Sunday, while former Prime Minister François Fillon spoke of the memory of "30 years of common fighting".

"I want to say to my loved ones my deep emotion"

"Patrick Devedjian was a passionate, whole, sincere, committed man. He embodied politics as I like him, with feelings, convictions, panache. I am proud to have had him by my side", wrote on Twitter the former head of state. "I want to express to my loved ones my deep emotion and my infinite sadness".

Patrick Devedjian was a passionate, whole, sincere, committed man. He embodied politics as I like him, with feelings, convictions, panache. I am proud to have had him by my side. I want to express to my loved ones my deep emotion and my infinite sadness. NS

- Nicolas Sarkozy (@NicolasSarkozy) March 29, 2020

Hospitalized mid-week in Hauts-de-Seine, after having tested positive for the coronavirus, Patrick Devedjian, 75, died on the night of Saturday to Sunday. Close to Nicolas Sarkozy, he was however not appointed Minister of Justice, as he hoped, after the latter's accession to the Elysee in 2007.

On the other hand, Patrick Devedjian was elected in September 2007 secretary general of the UMP (now LR), now endowed with a collegial leadership, a difficult task while Nicolas Sarkozy keeps behind the scenes the upper hand on the party.

>> READ ALSO - Patrick Devedjian, Sarkozyst from the start and free spirit

"We will not be able to" give him "the tribute he deserves"

He was Minister twice under the chairmanship of Jacques Chirac, each time under the wing of Nicolas Sarkozy: Minister Delegate for Local Liberties in 2002 when Nicolas Sarkozy was Minister of the Interior, then Minister Delegate for Industry in 2005 when his mentor was Minister of the Economy.

Patrick Devedjian was swept away by the pandemic like tens of thousands of human beings around the world. We will not be able to stand by his side to pay him the homage he deserves. We still have our memories accumulated over 30 years of common fights

- François Fillon (@FrancoisFillon) March 29, 2020

Under the Sarkozy presidency, Patrick Devedjian was minister of the Recovery plan, from 2008 to 2010, after the financial crisis, in the second government of François Fillon. "We will not be able to stand alongside his family to pay him the tribute he deserves," François Fillon wrote on Twitter. "We still have our memories accumulated over 30 years of common fighting," he added.