François Bayrou, moved to tears, pays tribute to “an exceptional woman”

The funeral of Anne-Marie Comparini, figure of the UDF in Lyon, takes place this Saturday, January 11 in the Saint-Jean cathedral. Prime Minister François Bayrou attends the ceremony. Many local political figures are present to pay a final tribute to the former president of the Rhône-Alpes region.

The Prime Minister’s tribute was followed by the homily of Father Bernard Devert, founder of Habitat et Humanisme, who also paid tribute to the deceased: “You are a great lady, one who bears the name of the fraternity.”

“We who have shared so many battles…”. Moved to tears, it was the head of government, François Bayrou, who spoke shortly after 3 p.m. to retrace the journey of Anne-Marie Comparini. He was the first to speak to greet this woman “determined”.

The leader of the centrists remembers “a courageous and tenacious woman” who had “concern for the other” and who devoted his life to his region, “until his last breath”.

“Each of the people who crossed your path knows what flame animated you”, declares the Prime Minister. François Bayrou then returns to the career of this daughter of Italian immigrants, whose family had fled fascism. His brilliant university career, his meeting with Raymond Barre.

Solidity, courage, wisdom, that’s who Anne-Marie Comparini was. (…) I express our recognition and gratitude to the commitment of an exceptional woman.

François Bayrou

Prime Minister

The Prime Minister also discusses Anne-Marie Comparini’s political commitment to the Region. “Rigorous, hardworking”“at the regional council for 12 years”. ‘We met and bonded straight away and never left each other anymore.’ In addition to his long-standing friendship, François Bayrou also does not fail to mention “the tumults of alliances in the region” and to look back with emotion on his election to the presidency of Rhône-Alpes. “Your presence and your character made the critics silent. You paid no attention to the insults and jeers. You had a moral and political contract with the inhabitants of the region and all those who shared your values. You had the strength of faith. “With finesse and firmness, with firmness and finesse, you knew how to set a course for the region”, he adds.

François Bayrou finally evokes a woman, who was not looking for “neither honors nor first places”, a woman “faithful to his convictions and to republican and humanist values”. For the head of government, Anne-Marie Comparini was “an exceptional woman”. It is with this expression that he concludes this tribute.

Around 2 p.m., the Lyonnais began to flock to the Primatiale square. Many of them salute the courage and political commitment of Anne-Marie Comparini, described as a woman “determined and honest”.

Among the political figures attending the ceremony: the environmentalist mayor of Lyon Grégory Doucet, the green president of the Metropolis Bruno Bernard, the mayor of the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon Pierre Oliver, the former LR deputy and regional elected official Marc Fraysse…

Impressed by the commitment and journey of Anne-Marie Comparini, on the square in front of the cathedral, a Lyonnaise speaks about “his righteousness, his courage and his integrity”, “especially in the face of the national front at the time”. A Lyonnais, a young activist in the UDF in the 90s, was marked by Anne-Marie Comparini: “She made me want to get involved and continue”. He emphasizes his “mobilization force”.

The former president of the Rhône-Alpes region, a UDF figure in Lyon, died on the night of January 4 to 5 in Lyon.