The journalist Gérard Leclerc was in the small tourist plane which crashed in the town of Lavau-sur-Loire, in Loire-Atlantique, this Tuesday, August 15 in the afternoon.
In addition to Gérard Leclerc, who is the husband of Julie Leclerc, one of the emblematic voices of Europe 1 radio for nearly 50 years and also the half-brother of singer Julien Clerc, there were two other people in the device. .
No body has been found, for the moment, and the parquet floor of Saint-Nazaire does not officially announce any death. The search should resume in the morning.
The Canal+ group announces its death
In the evening, reactions multiplied on the social network X. In particular from journalists from the CNEWS channel, where Gérard Leclerc was a columnist, in the program “L’heure des pros” hosted by the Nantais Pascal Praud.
So, Gérald Brice Viret, CEO of Canal+ in charge of the antennas and programs of the group, to which the CNEWS channel belongs, writes: “It is with infinite sadness that we learned of the death of Gérard Leclerc, emblematic editorial writer for CNEWS.”.
Journalist Laurence Ferrarishe salutes the memory of a “very great journalist, a free spirit and an extraordinary team-mate” while Pascal Praud, evokes a “honest man.”
Unanimous tribute from the political class
Another reaction, in the political class: Gérard Leclerc, 71, was for a long time editor-in-chief of the political service of France 2. He was also, from 2009 to 2015, president of The Parliamentary Channel-National Assembly.
So, the former President of the Republic François Hollande was one of the first to react. Tribute also from the socialist regional councilor of Pays de la Loire, and former minister delegate for agri-food, Guillaume Garot. On the left, always, the deputy LFI of Seine-Saint-Denis, Alexis Corbièrewriting “Very very sad news. Gérard Leclerc was a respectable and always warm man. Ex-President of LCP, passionate about politics, but also defender of the revolutionaries of 89 and 93 and rugby player.”
Also on the right the leader of the Les Républicains party, Eric Ciotti, shares his “strong emotion on learning of the disappearance of Gérard Leclerc in a plane crash. He was an immense journalist who spent a large part of his career at France Télévisions.”
Eric Zemmour of Reconquestwho was also a column on CNEWS, talks about a man who “loved debate, hated bigotry and was one of those who had the courage to be part of the CNews adventure from the start”. Jordan Bardella for the RN says to himself “moved to learn of the disappearance (…) of a passionate journalist.”