Paul Quilès, socialist figure and former minister of François Mitterrand, is dead

He had long accompanied François Mitterrand, of which he was the campaign manager during the victory in the presidential election in May 1981. Former minister Paul Quilès died on Tuesday, September 21, at the age of 79, confirmed the president of the Tarn departmental council, Christophe Ramond, to France Blue and La Dépêche du Midi.

After the election of François Mitterrand, he was a figure in socialist governments, in which he occupied several portfolios: housing (1983-1985 then 1991-1992), transport (1984-1985 then 1991-1992), defense (1985-1986 ), post and telecommunications (1988-1991), domestic (1992-1993).

He was then deputy for the first constituency of Tarn from 1993 to 2007, as well as mayor of the Tarn commune of Cordes-sur-Ciel, from 1995 until the last municipal elections, in 2020.

“He is a very important character who is leaving us today”, Mr. Ramond testified. He keeps the memory of a “Free spirit within the Socialist Party, of a man deeply committed and who fought to keep his community of communes alive”.