Simone Veil passed away in Paris at the age of 89, this Friday, June 30th, her family announced. “My mother died this morning at her home. She was about to turn 90 on July 13th,” said one of her sons, Jean Veil.
Numerous reactions came from the political world.
We chose the one that seemed most appropriate to us: “Madame Veil belongs to the best of our History. And her name will live in our gratitude forever.”
Christian Estrosi spoke on behalf of all the people of Nice: “Nice is the birthplace of Simone Veil, and as she permanently enters history, Nice will be eternally honored to have given her birth.”
This former minister of Valéry Giscard d’Estaing became a figure for women’s rights after the adoption in 1974 of the law on voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG).
Simone Veil, born Jacob in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) in 1927, was deported during the Second World War to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. She and her two sisters were the only survivors of the family. Simone Veil married Antoine Veil in 1946. She had three children with him.
Simone Veil was also president of the European Parliament in 1979 and Minister of Health in the government of Édouard Balladur from 1993 to 1995. She later served on the Constitutional Council.
