[ad_1]
After François Bayrou, president of the French centrist party Modem, announced the death of his close associate, Marielle de Sarnez, 69, on Wednesday, tributes immediately came from across the political spectrum in France.
“Marielle, so talented and courageous. Marielle de Sarnez has just left. Our sadness is immense, ”writes Bayrou, currently mayor of Pau.
Sarnez, who entered politics in France in 1974, helped Bayrou found the Modem party. Former MEP and fervent supporter of the European project, she suffered from leukemia.
Writing in tribute on Twitter, President Emmanuel Macron wrote that Sarnez was a “tireless craftsman of the center, passionate fighter for Europe”, adding that “France is losing a very talented political leader. We are losing a friend.”
Prime Minister Jean Castex wrote about “Sarnez’s loyalty to his political commitments” and his work to “modernize our democracy and defend a certain idea of Europe”.
Sarnez joined Macron’s LaRem party to run for his seat in parliament. She became president of the prestigious foreign affairs committee of the National Assembly.
His allies and opponents have praised it, notably the leader of France Unbowed, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who honored “an opponent who was an example of loyalty, respect for others and creativity”.
“Beyond our political differences, she was a committee chairperson involved, respectful and attentive to all deputies,” wrote Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right National Rally.
Born in Paris, Sarnez spent most of her career in the capital, entering politics when she supported presidential candidate Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1974.
She found her role in centrist politics, and finally became president of the centrist UDF of Paris in 2006 and of the Paris branch of Modem in 2008. She was elected MEP in 2009.
Sarnez led Bayrou’s unsuccessful presidential candidacy in 2012.
In May 2017, then Prime Minister Edouard Philippe appointed his Minister for European Affairs, but she resigned a few days later after revelations in the press that she had been paid for a job she had not not done in the European Parliament. The revelations also prompted Bayrou to step down from his brief stint as Minister of Justice.
(with wires)
Source link
