On January 1, 2023, the Legion of Honor was awarded to 340 people working “
in the service of the nation
” in a wide variety of fields of activity, as tradition dictates.
"
We must create an order that is the sign of virtue, honor, heroism, a distinction that serves to reward both military bravery and civil merit
", explained Napoleon Bonaparte, founder in 1802 of the Legion of Honour.
This year, the sciences are in the spotlight with the biologist Etienne-Emile Baulieu, the only personality of the promotion to reach the dignity of Grand Cross, the highest distinction.
The physico-chemist Marie-Paule Pileni is promoted to grand officer, as is the Nobel Prize in physics Albert Fert.
Astronaut Thomas Pesquet was appointed an officer for "
clearly characterized exceptional services
", which exempted him from the regulatory period between two ranks.
In the field of the arts, we will remember the names of the conductor Jean-Claude Casadesus, raised as a grand officer, and of the composer Louis Chedid, made a knight.
Different authors and writers are also distinguished, such as Patrick Modiano, Nobel Prize for Literature, promoted to Commander, or Enki Bilal, named Knight.
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In the world of sport, Catherine Moyon de Baecque, co-president of the commission against violence at the French National Olympic Committee, or even Yannick Noah, reach the rank of knight.
The promotion of January 1 also distinguished several former ministers, from all political stripes, from Nicole Belloubet to Michèle Alliot-Marie via François Bayrou, Pierre Méhaignerie, Muriel Pénicaud and Frédérique Vidal, promoted to officers.
Marie-George Buffet, Christophe Castaner, Richard Ferrand are named knights.
Ministers and parliamentarians in the exercise of their functions cannot be decorated, with the exception of prime ministers, who automatically become Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit after six months at Matignon, as was the case for Elisabeth Terminal on December 22.
Many people involved in the social or health field for the well-being of their fellow citizens are also rewarded on January 1st.
Thus, Martine Brousse, president of the association The voice of the child, is promoted commander of the Legion of honor, as well as Gérard Feldzer, president of the NGO Aviation without borders.
Michel Calmon, managing director of the Santé Service foundation and Jocelyne Nouvet-Gire, president of the French association for multiple sclerosis, have been named knights.
In the economic field, business leaders travel with personalities invested in professional organizations, from Patricia Barbizet, president of Témaris, elevated to the dignity of grand officer, to Véronique Morali, president of Webedia and the association Force femmes, promoted commander, via Cécile Beaudonnat, president of the women's commission at the Confederation of building crafts (CAPEB) and Jacques Rouchaussé, president of the federation of French vegetable producers and of the CTIFL, who become knights.
France's highest national distinction, the Legion of Honor currently has 79,000 members.
