Death at 92 of socialist Jean Le Garrec, minister under the François Mitterrand era

Former minister and former socialist deputy Jean Le Garrec died at the age of 92, the PS du Nord federation announced in a press release on Sunday, hailing a “man of values” with “tremendous political contributions”.

Jean Le Garrec successively occupied several posts of Secretary of State and one of minister, within the governments of Pierre Mauroy and Laurent Fabius, between 1981 and 1986, recalling the socialists of the North.

He was notably responsible for implementing the policy of nationalization following the victory of François Mitterrand, but also for planning, employment and even the civil service.

Jean Le Garrec has just left us after a lifetime on the left. Deputy of the North, Minister of F. Mitterrand, he was a resolute defender of the condition of the workers, so that they no longer lose their lives to earn it. The Socialist Party joins in the pain of its loved ones. pic.twitter.com/fRscSTGG82

— Socialist Party (@partisocialiste) February 19, 2023

Tributes from the political class

He was also regional councilor for Nord Pas-de-Calais and deputy for the Nord from 1981 to 1993 in Cambraisis, then from 1997 to 2007 on the coast; serving as Chairman of the Finance and Cultural, Family and Social Affairs Committee at the National Assembly. “We are losing a man of values ​​whose political contributions are immense”. “In the North, he has worked tirelessly for the industrial restructuring of the territory and the protection of workers, in particular steelworkers”, declared in this press release the first federal secretary of the North Sarah Kerrich.

“One of his last commitments as a deputy was the care of asbestos victims. His role was decisive in the evolution of the status of contaminated employees,” she adds. “So many memories and fights shared with Jean for whom I had immense affection. Very sad day”, also regretted on Twitter the PS mayor of Lille Martine Aubry.

“Tribute to Jean Le Garrec. Deputy, minister … but always with the left as a compass. That of the workers he tirelessly defended. In their rights and their dignity”, further reinforced, on Twitter, the PS deputy of Essonne Jerome Guedj.