Jean-Claude Gaudin, the former mayor of Marseille, died at the age of 84

In July 2020, Jean-Claude Gaudin passed on his role as mayor of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône) to Michèle Rubirola. In 50 years of political life, he has experienced it all: deputy, vice-president of the Senate, president of the region and minister. His only love remained Marseille. “The mayor in what he decides, he sees it carried out before his eyes“, he declared.

At the age of 24, then a history teacher, he joined the municipal council of the town hall, then led by the socialist Gaston Defferre. In 1986, to take the PACA region, Gaudin (UDF-RPR) made an alliance with the National Front. He won the region, and managed it with the far-right party until 1992. Three years later, he finally became mayor.

Until the end, he reigned as undisputed master over the Marseille city. He dreamed of making his city the European Capital of Culture. In 2013, the Mucem became the emblematic museum of Marseille. He modernized the image of the city, nevertheless remained a poor city divided between the northern districts, left to their own devices, and the southern districts, more bourgeois.

The tragedy of the rue d’Aubagne will remain an indelible stain on the end of his mandate. On November 5, 2018, eight people died under the rubble of dilapidated buildings. In the street, the people of Marseillais shouted their anger, wishing to put an end to the Gaudin era. “We carry out major work that costs a lot of money, and we forget the population“, lamented a resident. The tragedy opened a political crisis without precedent for 25 years.

His fourth mandate, the last, was for many one too many, especially since he did not prepare his succession, leaving his political family torn apart for his seat, until defeat. His retirement has was then disrupted by business, since he was suspected of embezzlement of public funds. Although his former friends have turned their backs on him, he is still convinced that he has accomplished his mission.