Death of Henri Nallet: minister of François Mitterrand, Mediator affair… the politician died at the age of 85

Henri Nallet est décédé à l’âge de 85 ans. MAXPPP – Vincent Isore

Henri Nallet, former Minister of Agriculture and then Justice under François Mitterrand, died on Wednesday at the age of 85, the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, of which he was the honorary president, said on Wednesday.

"It’It’s a great statesman that France is losing today", writes Jean-Marc Ayrault, former Prime Minister and president of the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, in a press release.

From the Legion of Honor to the status of assisted witness

Researcher at the National Institute of Agronomic Research then advisor on agricultural issues to François Mitterrand, Henri Nallet had been the socialist president's Minister of Agriculture between 1985 and 1986, then between 1988 and 1990.

He subsequently became Keeper of the Seals in 1990, a position he retained until 1992. There was "made shows all its attachment to questions of justice and human rights", underlines Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Henri Nallet had also been mayor of the town of Tonnerre, in Yonne, between 1989 and 1998. A department of which he was the deputy between 1986 and 1988, then between 1997 and 1999. In the 1990s, he became "the vice-president of the European Socialist Party", also recalls Jean-Marc Ayrault.< /p>

"Very sad at the announcement of the death of Henri Nallet, traveling companion of François Mitterrand to whom he brought his agricultural expertise. We will miss his finesse", reacted on X the First Secretary of the PS, Olivier Faure.

Très triste à l’annonce du décès d’Henri Nallet, compagnon de route de F. Mitterrand auquel il apporta son expertise agricole. Militant de toujours il exerça toutes les fonctions au PS et présida enfin la fondation J Jaurès. Sa finesse nous manquera. Condoléances à sa famille. https://t.co/QsU49iLgbw

— Olivier Faure (@faureolivier) May 29, 2024

Although he received the Legion of Honor on July 14, 2015 under the presidency of François Hollande, his decoration was criticized due to his placement under the status of assisted witness in the Médiator affair, underline our colleagues from Libération.