2024-05-14 05:55:25
The writer of “Grey Souls”, 62, received five votes against four for another member of the Academy, Pierre Assouline.
The Académie Goncourt, which awards the most prestigious French literary prizes, changed president on Monday May 13, bringing writer Philippe Claudel at its head following a close election. The author of “Grey Souls”, 62, received five votes against four for another member of the Academy, Pierre Assouline.
Both were candidates to succeed Didier Decoin, 79, who gave up the position after having held it for four years. He himself succeeded Bernard Pivot in January 2020, who died on May 6.
“Heavy” load according to its predecessor
The Academy had not notified that it was replacing its office on Monday evening, even though it traditionally meets on Tuesday. But, she clarified, some of its members plan to go to the funeral of Bernard Pivot, scheduled for the afternoon in Quincié-en-Beaujolais, in the Rhône department.
We also did not know with certainty that Didier Decoin, winner of the 1977 Goncourt Prize, was going to cede the presidency. He had only hinted at it, explaining that the load seemed “heavy” to him.
In October, he confirmed what many knew, that two jurors were interested in the position. “Claudel wants it, Assouline too, but I don’t have the impression that they want to bite for it,” he told Nouvel Obs.
Philippe Claudel seemed the favorite of this upcoming duel because he held the position of secretary general, which made him the natural heir to Didier Decoin.
“I will try to be a democratic president, of whom the jurors can be proud. I have announced a five-year mandate, at the end of which I will leave the presidency but also the Academy,” declared the new president Monday evening at The Republican East, the daily newspaper of its region, Lorraine.
Eventful presidency
“Philippe Claudel is elected president by five votes to Pierre Assouline’s four,” detailed the Académie Goncourt in a press release.
Only nine of the ten Goncourt jurors were able to vote because one of them, Paule Constant, 80 years old, left office. She “is now an honorary member,” the Academy said.
The four Goncourt prizes chaired by Didier Decoin gave rise to a rather eventful history.
The first, in 2020, postponed by several weeks to the end of November, was given behind closed doors, due to the Covid-2019 pandemic, to Hervé Le Tellier for “L’Anomalie”.
The last two saw the jurors clash head-on for 14 rounds, with five votes to five.
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