Jean-Marie Rausch, former minister and mayor of Metz for nearly forty years, has died

Jean-Marie Rausch, mayor of Metz for 37 years and former minister, died Friday January 5 at the age of 94. “Jean-Marie Rausch embodied the city of Metz and revealed himself as a rigorous manager and an exceptional visionary”declared the current mayor of Metz, François Grosdidier, on his Facebook account, after learning “with deep sadness and deep emotion” the death of his predecessor.

Born in 1929 in Sarreguemines (Moselle), Jean-Marie Rausch (various right) was elected mayor of Metz in 1971, a position he retained until 2008, the year when the socialist Dominique Gros won the town hall, a first for the left. He also served as senator for Moselle between 1974 and 2001, with a four-year break between 1988 and 1992, where he held positions as “opening minister” under the presidency of François Mitterrand. He served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister Delegate for Posts and Telecommunications and Minister Delegate for Commerce and Crafts.

He had led the creation of the Center Pompidou-Metz

The mayor (PS) of Nancy, Mathieu Klein, welcomed a “elected pioneer in the promotion of urban ecology”. He mentioned a “open political leader, who worked for the destiny of France”.

Jean-Marie Rausch also carried out, during his mandates, the project of creating the Center Pompidou-Metz. He hoped that the museum “radically changes the image of Metz in France and in Europe”.