From Paul Quilès, who died in Paris on September 24, at the age of 79, stands out the memory of a face carved with a billhook, illuminated by piercing blue eyes, and a sulphurous reputation as a “head cutter” . For a long time, the one who was the director of François Mitterrand’s victorious campaign in the 1981 presidential election dragged the speech he gave in October of that year at the Congress of the Socialist Party (PS) in Valence like a ball. , placed under the banner of change.
For the first time since the debut of the Ve Republic, the left had just come to power. The young deputy – he was then 39 years old – gave a fiery speech: “No one would be grateful if we left all the top officials in the economy or administration, who are our adversaries, in place. Let us remember that in politics, to give a gift of this kind is to condemn yourself. But neither should we be content to say evasively, as Robespierre did to the Convention: “Heads will fall”. You have to say which ones and say it quickly! “ The right is indignant and is not long in sticking to him the nickname of “Robespaul” which will stick to his skin.
Son of an officer father and a teacher mother, Paul Quilès was born on January 27, 1942 in Saint-Denis-du-Sig, Algeria. A double influence from which he inherits both the rigor, even the stiffness, and the desire to learn. A former Polytechnic student (promotion X1961), he began a career as an engineer with the oil company Shell, until 1978. Joined the PS in 1972, in the socialist section of 13e arrondissement of Paris, he took from the right, in the legislative elections of 1978, the seat of deputy of this constituency.
Spotted by François Mitterrand, he is responsible for structuring the socialist federations. His organizational skills earned him the leadership of the presidential campaign. Success is the key. He was re-elected as a member in the process, but did not immediately obtain a ministerial portfolio. Another campaign awaits him. Appointed leader of the Socialists in the municipal elections of 1983 in Paris, he fought a battle lost in advance against Jacques Chirac, despite a slogan, “Quilès tenderness”, intended to make people forget the episode of Valence.
At the Ministry of Defense after the “Rainbow Warrior” affair
Consolation prize or reward? He entered the government in October 1983 as Minister of Town Planning and Housing. First mission, after the impetuosity of the first two years of the left in power, to appease the rebellion of landlords and landlords frightened by the Quilliot law of June 22, 1982, which had made it possible to rebalance the relationship between landlords and tenants. In his ministerial functions, he proves to be much more moderate than the image that his detractors have been good enough to shape him. Its portfolio was extended with transport after the resignation of the Communist ministers in 1984.
You have 64.59% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
www.lemonde.fr