Just in: Corrupt festival boss dies on Paris Metro
mainJacques Barrot, president of the Festival de La Chaise-Dieu, has collapsed and died on the Paris Métro at the Sablons station, near Neuilly. He was 77.
Barrot served as a minister in several French governments under Giscard d’Estaing and Chirac. He rose to become European Commissioner for Justice in 2008, despite having been convicted of embezzling government funds in 2000 and funneling them to his party.
The international music festival was his retirement hobby.
There seems to be a string of colourful characters who’ve been appointed EU commissioner. Look at this recently appointment from Malta:
http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2014/10/shanguy-electric-never-die-a-photo-archive-of-maltas-new-eu-commissioner/
http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2014/10/take-a-look-at-il-guys-european-commission-cv/
A “retirement hobby” that he did with great commitment. The festival at La Chaise-Dieu, in an economic climate that has seen many French festivals retrench considerably, still presents a fine programme – and, incidentally, remains an excellent employer of British musicians.
Would that more politicians with similar influence and determination would get so positively involved with classical music festivals in their retirement. Thank you very much, Monsieur Barrot, for all that you did for Classical music.
Yes, he made a mistake in party funding, but that was in a time that regulations in France regarding party financing were quite unclear.
Mr. Barrot did a great job for the Festival in La Chaise Dieu. He will be missed.
Shameful to resume the life of this fine politician and great supporter of classical music in this title.
I regret Slipped Disc seems getting more and more a classical music tabloid without even the lowest standards.
Tabloid style title…
Norman, can you sincerely believe that one’s life can be so neatly and badly coined?