Wanted: a Frenchman to wave the flag

Date: 09/11/1995

Edith Cresson's Chef de Cabinet François Lamoureux, once known within the Commission as 'the ayatollah' because of his fervent federalism, could be on the move.

Lamoureux has his eye on the post of deputy director-general in DGI, the Directorate-General for external relations, vacated by Robert Verrue, whose responsibilities in external economic relations included links with the former Soviet states, China and Japan. Verrue has replaced Michel Carpentier as Director-General in DGXIII, telecommunications, leaving a plum slot up for grabs for an ambitious French national. “It has a French flag on it,” confirmed a Commission official, and Lamoureux could be just the man to wave it.

It is up to Commissioner Hans van den Broek to decide who fills the post, but Lamoureux's credentials make him an obvious choice. His 'ayatollah' tag stems from his individual style and strict enforcement of civil service discipline during his previous Commission incarnation as deputy chef de cabinet with Jacques Delors from 1989 to 1991. Lamoureux's no-nonsense approach has earned him many other nicknames too, some unprintable.