Death of Édouard Balladur: the French political class pays tribute to the former Prime Minister

“A demanding servant” for France, “a great statesman”, “a reference”: reactions have multiplied since the announcement of the death of former Prime Minister Édouard Balladur on August 31.

"He died on Monday in Paris," his family told AFP. "A private family mass will be held," the same source added, without providing further details.

The political class was quick to react to the announcement of the former Prime Minister's death. "He had France at heart. He was its demanding, measured, and devoted servant," Emmanuel Macron commented on X. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu highlighted the "reformist spirit" of a figure who "will remain a reference point for many men and women in his political family."

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy lamented the loss of "a man who was an example, a mentor, and a friend to me." "I would not have had the political career I had without his trust and friendship," added the former head of state, who served as Sarkozy's young Minister of the Budget and was a key member of his government from 1993 to 1995 before choosing to support him during the presidential campaign against Jacques Chirac. "Tonight, I mourn the loss of one of the men who mattered most in my life."

The President of the Senate hails him as "a great statesman," while the Socialists reiterate their disagreements.

“Édouard Balladur had a high idea of our institutions and of the responsibility of those who serve them,” wrote the president of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, while the president (LR) of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, hailed “a great statesman” who “embodied a certain idea of the authority of the State, of budgetary rigor and of political responsibility.”

For the Socialist Party, "Édouard Balladur championed a liberal conception of the economy and led reforms that the left fought with determination," but these disagreements "do not prevent us from recognizing the servant of the State, the man of convictions and the republican that he was."

“He was one of those politicians [...] who held a noble vision of France,” reacted Bruno Retailleau, leader of the Republicans. Marine Le Pen, the National Rally presidential candidate, highlighted, “beyond political disagreements,” a personality “who consistently upheld his convictions and his vision of serving the Republic, and who always demonstrated respect for democratic debate.”