This Friday January 17, 2025, the prince Albert of Monaco to me”the immense sadness to announce the death“at 65 years of Didier Guillaume, the Minister of State of the Principality, via a press release relayed in Instagram story by Monaco Info. A death that makes “following a sudden illness that occurred during his hospitalization“. The sovereign addressed “his most sincere condolences to his wife, Mrs. Béatrice Frecenon-Guillaume, to his children, his brother, as well as to all of his family and loved ones.”
The father of Jacques and Gabriella “would like to salute the remarkable commitment” of the former Minister of Agriculture and Food under the government of Edouard Philippe (2018-2020) “at the service of the Principality from the moment he took office on September 2, 2024, a period during which he was able to demonstrate all his determination and know-how in order to make concrete progress on essential subjects for the future of Monaco, both in terms of nationally and internationally.“
He also salutes “his human qualities”, which were “greatly appreciated” on the Rock. Finally, Prince Albert confirms, still via this press release, “that the interim functions of Minister of State remain entrusted to Ms. Isabelle Berro-Armadei, Government Advisor-Minister of External Relations and Cooperation, who retains the charge of his Department.”
As for the “information relating to the funeral” of Didier Guillaume, this will be “communicated later”.
-Rain of tributes for Didier Guillaume
Note that several relatives of the former minister paid tribute to him, on X. Like the former socialist senator Jean Besson, who mourns the disappearance of an “accomplice”, the former Macronist minister and former mayor of Annonay Olivier Dussopt who says goodbye to a “friend, a big brother”, or the former Minister of Industry Roland Lescure and the MP Clément Beaune, who assured that it was “a good man.”
Originally from Bourg-de-Péage (Drôme), Didier Guillaume was first mayor of the town from 1995 to 2004, before taking over as president of the Departmental Council of Drôme from 2004 to 2015. Former senator of Drôme, between 2008 and 2018, he notably chaired the socialist group in the Senate from 2014 to 2018, before to join the French government, then that of the Monegasque principality.
