France: Paul Quilès, the death of a faithful of François Mitterrand
Former French Minister Paul Quilès, during a congress of the Socialist Party in Paris, September 23, 1995. AFP - PIERRE BOUSSEL
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Figure of the Socialist Party, former minister Paul Quilès died this Friday, September 23 at the age of 79.
With him, a figure of Mitterrandism disappears.
The former deputy of the Southwest had indeed remained an absolute faithful of the former president, even in the controversies.
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In one of his last interviews, granted this spring to the
Journal du Dimanche,
Paul Quilès was indignant that Emmanuel Macron was going to Kigali to commemorate the Rwandan genocide and to admit a responsibility of France more important than recognized until then.
Unacceptable, necessarily, for Paul Quilès who in 1998 led the parliamentary information mission on the genocide.
A mission which, if it had admitted errors of judgment by the French authorities, had also largely exonerated President François Mitterrand.
There is no question for Paul Quilès that we touch his mentor: it was for him that he was engaged in politics in 1973 before being the director of the victorious campaign of the socialist leader in 1981.
►
To listen: Paul Quilès: "France provided aid to the Rwandan government" in 1994
Firefighter on duty and shadow man
The elected representative of the Tarn had been rewarded for his loyalty by chaining up ministerial posts: in the Interior, in Posts and Telecommunications, in Housing, in Transport.
Also at La Défense, where he had had the difficult task of succeeding Charles Hernu, swept away by the
Rainbow Warrior scandal
.
Firefighter on duty, therefore, a man in the shadows, but also capable of evolving in his convictions.
In recent years, he had been committed to nuclear disarmament, notably alongside Nicolas Hulot.
►
To listen: Paul Quilès: "The nuclear illusion is created by the military-industrial lobby"
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French politics
François Mitterrand