In February 1999, the political party known as the Union Democratique Francaise, usually described as "centriste", decided in Bordeaux that, in the forthcoming European elections, they would stand as an independent party. Most people thought the finest speech made on this occasion came from Pierre Pflimlin, who has died aged 93, eloquent and incisive as ever, in spite of his years.
He stood then, as he always had, for three great causes: Europe, Alsace and Social Catholicism. But for many listening, the most prominent episode in his long career was his appointment as prime minister in May 1958, which precipitated the demise of the fourth republic, and which, without his skill and honesty, could have led to civil war in France.
At that time, internal divisions and the repercussions of the Algerian war had made government in France impossible. When President Coty invited Pierre Pflimlin to form a government on May 8th, the country had been without a premier for 38 days.
In Algeria, the reaction to his appointment was violent. He had earlier, in the Strasbourg newspaper, Le Nouvel Alsacien, suggested a ceasefire and negotiations among all parties. The army rejected this. Crowds demonstrated on both sides of the Mediterranean, declaiming that Algeria was French. On May 13th, as he was asking the national assembly for a vote of confidence, insurgents seized power in Algiers.
The immediate result was a clear vote of confidence in him, since most deputies felt that there had to be a government in power to face up to the crisis. But the situation worsened; Corsica was invaded, and it seemed that the mainland would be attacked.
General de Gaulle was the unknown factor. Was he in favour of the insurrection or waiting for the right moment to install himself at the head of a military dictatorship?
Pierre Pflimlin met de Gaulle secretly during the night of May 26th and asked him to condemn the insurgents, but the general refused. The meeting ended at 2 a.m. and, at mid-day, he was astonished to learn of de Gaulle's communique stating that he had begun the regular process necessary for the establishment of a republican government. This was not true - but should he say so?
Had he denounced de Gaulle's statement, some sort of military action would certainly have followed. In spite of much pressure, especially from Francois Mitterrand and the communists, he remained discreet. At 3 a.m. on May 29th, after a long series of meetings, he went to Coty with his resignation.
He had been prime minister for only 21 days - but they had been crucial. Coty said that the French people did not realise how much he had done for them, and de Gaulle seemed to have been sincere when he praised his courage and coolness. epublicain Populaire, had been formed in Paris in November 1944 as the party of the resistance. By 1945, it was in process of creating itself in Strasbourg, but it had a rival, a Catholic party, linked with the resistance - but also seeking autonomy for Alsace.
Pflimlin Pierre chose the former, and was rapidly elected municipal councillor, and, in October 1945, deputy. He then became minister for agriculture, minister for overseas France, and finance minister.
From 1959-83, he was mayor of Strasbourg. Always an ardent supporter of Europe, he backed all the measures for the creation of a European identity, including the proposal for a European defence community.
He stayed in de Gaulle's governments until May 15th 1962, when the general mocked the idea of European integration. Pierre resigned, devoting himself from then on to Alsace and Europe, especially to Strasbourg as the site of the European parliament, and to relations with Germany.
He was a member of the European parliament from 1979 and its president from 1984-89.
He was married with a son and two daughters.
Pierre Pflimlin: born 1907; died, June 2000