A "Marseillaise"
energetic sung by his friend Roberto Alagna - himself a resident of the town - and broadcast over loudspeakers in front of the town hall.
It is on these notes that Le Raincy (Seine-Saint-Denis) bade his last farewell to Eric Raoult, former minister and deputy-mayor of this small town of Seine-Saint-Denis, who died on Friday April 16, 2021 in the age 65.
Before the funeral, which was held in the Notre-Dame-de-la-Consolation church, the funeral procession stopped in front of the town hall for a "republican tribute" in the presence of several personalities, among which others
"
babies Chirac
”
, like the former Minister of Defense Michèle Alliot-Marie and Renaud Muselier (LR), current president of the Sud Paca Region.
Read alsoDeath of Eric Raoult, former minister of Jacques Chirac: "He died of being betrayed"
It was first of all his friend, the rabbi of the synagogue of Raincy Moché Lewin, who spoke in front of the town hall to greet the former Gaullist, "big mouth" of the right whose outspokenness has never left many people indifferent.
“Eric was a character who will forever mark our city,” he said.
During my travels abroad, when I was asked where my synagogue was and I answered
u Raincy
, I was asked
where is it?
I answered
Where Eric Raoult is mayor.
And there, everyone knew.
He made his city an example.
"
"His qualities do not disappear with his death"
The rabbi, who spoke of Eric Raoult's commitment to the Jewish community and to the State of Israel, also spoke of “his greatness of soul”: “Eric, he was a man of heart, of generosity.
His qualities do not disappear with his death.
He will always remain, for all those who knew him, an example of sincerity and commitment, of courage.
Some said he had the verb high?
He had the courage to say what he thought without thinking about the political consequences behind it.
"
Le Raincy (Seine-Saint-Denis), this Thursday morning.
"Eric was playing politics as we should all do: going out to meet others, talking, arguing…", greeted Renaud Muselier, who was his wedding witness.
Anthony LIEURES
"May good memories come back to me", sighed at the microphone Renaud Muselier, recounting his meeting with Eric Raoult, during the RPR youth winter universities in 1985, in L'Alpe-d'Huez (Isère). “His good humor, his simplicity, his infectious laugh… We became friends right away. "
The president of the Sud Paca Region will become, several years later, his wedding witness.
"Eric was playing politics as we should all do: going out in front of others, talking, arguing…, he said.
Sometimes being over the top the better to be forgiven, with the air of a sad baby on a TV set […] If he was a fierce fighter, he never forgot that he was facing women and men. .
He called everyone by their first name, regardless of political color, and everyone gave him back.
"
Senator Philippe Dallier (LR) also recalled the harshness of the fight led by the right in Seine-Saint-Denis, at the end of the 20th century, against the Communists in particular.
But he also described this energetic politician who liked confrontations, sometimes physical.
And to extract a few smiles from the crowd with his anecdotes: “In January 1987, during a transport strike, he went, with a few others, to campaign against the strike in front of the CGT headquarters in Montreuil.
He will come back with four stitches and a chipped tooth… ”
“It was clear, crisp.
It has never been wrong ”
Philippe Dallier has not forgotten that, if he had "the chance", in 1995, to be able to be a candidate for the municipal elections and elected mayor of Pavillons-sous-Bois, he owes it to him: "He set foot in the stirrup of many elected officials in this department ”.
Sobs in his voice, he reread this last SMS which he had sent to him Thursday, April 15 in the afternoon, the day before his death: "I unfortunately did not answer him the same evening, and the next day, I learned of his death.
Eric was a force of character, a force of nature and he wanted to live ”.
To read also "Eric Raoult, it was a bit Le Raincy": the municipal council paid tribute to the former mayor
After the last words pronounced by the current mayor of Raincy Jean-Michel Genestier (SE), the procession headed towards the church.
Among the many people who came to pay homage to him, elected officials, activists and residents, often his former voters.
Like Suzanne, 85 years old.
“I have met him several times at meetings.
He was a righteous person but open, not sectarian at all, she believes.
He spoke to everyone, even those he didn't know.
His death did something to us because he was not very old.
65 is not a lot… ”
“He was a whole guy, also greets Grégoire, 94 years old.
It was clear, crisp.
It has never been wrong.
We saw him from time to time, he also gave advice to the youngest.
"
