Anne-Marie Comparini, a faithful ally of François Bayrou and former president of the Rhône-Alpes region, passed away at the age of 77 on the night of Saturday to Sunday, January 5th, according to her entourage. Born on July 11, 1947 in Orange (Vaucluse), she was a member of the UDF (center-right) party and had served as parliamentary assistant to former Prime Minister Raymond Barre from 1978 to 2001. She also held the position of Deputy for Urban and University Policy at the Lyon City Hall while Barre was in charge of the city from 1995 to 2001.
Having been elected to the Rhône-Alpes Regional Council in 1986, which later became Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes after a merger in 2015, she was regularly re-elected until she became its president in 1999. Her election was supported by left-wing votes and UDF members who withdrew their support for Charles Millon after he accepted votes from the National Front in 1998. Known for her uncompromising stance against the National Front, she served as president of the region for six years.
Despite her defeat in the 2004 elections when she ran for re-election as president under the UDF-UMP label, Anne-Marie Comparini remained active in politics. She became a Member of Parliament for Rhône in 2002 and ran in the 2007 legislative elections under the UDF and Modem union, a new center party founded by current Prime Minister François Bayrou. Unfortunately, she was defeated in the first round of the elections.
While there was speculation that she would stand as a candidate for the Mayor of Lyon for Bayrou’s party, she announced her retirement from politics shortly after the 2007 elections. Despite this, she publicly declared her support for Emmanuel Macron, becoming the president of his support committee in Lyon in 2022. The late President François Bayrou paid tribute to her on social media, describing her as “intransigent, refusing to compromise with the National Front.”
Anne-Marie Comparini’s long and impressive political career came to an end with her passing, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and integrity in the service of the people of Rhône-Alpes and Lyon. Her commitment to her principles and her refusal to compromise on her values have left an indelible mark on the political landscape of France. Friends, colleagues, and supporters mourn her loss, but her memory will continue to inspire future generations of politicians who strive to uphold the highest standards of public service.
