20 mars 1901
3 septembre 1984
Gaston Palewski (1901-1984) est né à Paris dans une famille polonaise arrivée en France au XIXe siècle. Il est le fils de Maurice Palewski, ingénieur des Arts et manufactures et de Rose Diamantberger, fondatrice des premiers centres d’hygiène infantile de la région parisienne. Après des études secondaires au lycée Michelet à Vanves, Gaston Palewski entre au lycée Henri-IV à Paris avant d’intégrer l’École libre des sciences politiques. Licencié en lettres de la Sorbonne, il rejoint ensuite l’université d’Oxford en qualité de « research student ». C’est à cette période qu’il acquiert une fine connaissance du monde anglo-saxon. Attiré par les arts, Gaston Palewski obtient également le diplôme de l’École du Louvre.
Après avoir accompli son service militaire au Maroc, Gaston Palewski devient attaché politique au cabinet du maréchal Lyautey, résident général, de 1924 à 1925. De retour en France en septembre 1925, suite à la démission du maréchal Lyautey, Gaston Palewski collabore, aux côtés d’André François-Poncet, à la Société d’études et d’informations économiques.
À partir de 1928, Palewski devient le principal collaborateur de Paul Reynaud et le suit au gré de ses fonctions ministérielles. Il est ainsi successivement chef de cabinet de Paul Reynaud, ministre des Finances entre 1930 et 1931, chargé de mission auprès du ministre des Colonies et, enfin, directeur de cabinet du ministre de la Justice puis des Finances.
En 1934, il rencontre le colonel de Gaulle dont les thèses concernant l’utilisation des blindés le séduisent. C'est en vain que Palewski essaie de faire admettre ces idées nouvelles par la classe politique.
En janvier 1940, Gaston Palewski quitte son poste de directeur de cabinet de Paul Reynaud pour s’engager dans la 34e escadre de bombardement de nuit de l’armée de l’air au sein de laquelle il prend une part active à la bataille de France. En juin 1940, il rejoint Bordeaux, puis se rend en Afrique du Nord avec son esquadrille. Ayant entendu l’appel du 18 juin, il essaie, en vain, d’obtenir le ralliement de Marcel Peyrouton, résident général en Tunisie, et de Charles Noguès, résident général au Maroc et commandant en chef du théâtre d’opérations de l’Afrique du Nord. Décidé à poursuivre le combat, Palewski s’envole pour Londres en août 1940. En décembre 1940, le général de Gaulle le nomme directeur des Affaires politiques et des territoires non libérés de la France libre. Entre février 1941 et septembre 1942, Palewski commande les Forces françaises libres de l’Est africain. C’est à ce titre qu’il participe à la campagne d’Éthiopie. Palewski regagne Londres en septembre 1942. Il est alors promu directeur du cabinet civil du général de Gaulle. Durant les quatre années où il occupe ce poste, Gaston Palewski travaille activement au retour du général de Gaulle en France en œuvrant à la création d’une administration provisoire exclusivement française et en assurant le maintien d’une relation de qualité entre Churchill et le Général. Après la Libération, Gaston Palewski conserve ses fonctions auprès du nouveau président du Gouvernement provisoire de la République française (G.P.R.F.). Nommé Compagnon de la Libération en janvier 1946, Palewski se retire après la démission du général de Gaulle le 20 janvier 1946. Demeuré à Paris, il tient ce dernier régulièrement informé de la situation dans la capitale. Ayant refusé plusieurs postes pour rester aux côtés du Général, Gaston Palewski joue un rôle actif dans la création du Rassemblement du peuple français (R.P.F.) en avril-mai 1947. À partir de juillet 1947, il rejoint le comité exécutif du mouvement qui se transforme, en juin 1949, en conseil de direction. En parallèle, Gaston Palewski exerce les fonctions de directeur de cabinet du chef du R.P.F. et assure la liaison du R.P.F. avec différents partis politiques étrangers. Sur l’initiative de Gaston Palewski, un comité national d’études, réunissant diverses personnalité telles Aron, Malraux ou Pompidou, est créé. Cet organe parallèle de réflexion stratégique a pour objectif de préparer le programme des réformes à réaliser dans la perspective du retour du général de Gaulle au pouvoir.
Tête de liste R.P.F. dans la 6e circonscription de la Seine, Gaston Palewski est élu député aux élections législatives de juin 1951. Il démissionne alors de son poste de directeur de cabinet du général de Gaulle et suggère à ce dernier le nom de Georges Pompidou pour lui succéder. À son arrivée au Palais Bourbon, le nouveau député est élu vice-président du groupe gaulliste et rejoint la commission des Affaires étrangères. En 1953, il participe aux travaux de la commission de coordination chargée des questions relatives à la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l’acier (C.E.C.A.). En 1954, Gaston Palewski intègre la commission de coordination pour l’examen des problèmes intéressant les États associés d’Indochine et la commission du travail et de la sécurité sociale, avant de rejoindre, l’année suivante, la commission du suffrage universel, des lois constitutionnelles, du règlement et des pétitions. Le député Palewski s’intéresse aux questions économiques et sociales, à la fonction publique et aux allocations familiales, mais il se passionne surtout pour les questions diplomatiques et la construction européenne, sujets auxquels il consacre la majeure partie de son temps. Il est élu vice-président de l’Assemblée nationale le 6 novembre 1952. Il est réélu à ce poste jusqu’en 1955.
Le 23 février 1955, Gaston Palewski entre dans le cabinet d’Edgar Faure en qualité de ministre délégué à la présidence du Conseil chargé des Affaires atomiques, des Affaires sahariennes et de la coordination de la Défense. Opposé à la politique menée par le gouvernement en Afrique du Nord, il démissionne le 6 octobre 1955.
Palewski conduit la liste des républicains sociaux lors des élections législatives du 2 janvier 1956. Il ne retrouve toutefois pas son siège de député, car sa liste ne recueille que 20 913 voix sur les 371 902 suffrages exprimés, soit un total de 5,6 % des voix. Cet échec met un terme à sa carrière parlementaire.
Gaston Palewski retrouve les responsabilités politiques en 1957, année où il est nommé ambassadeur de France en Italie par le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Christian Pineau. Sous son mandat, le Palais Farnèse devient un haut lieu de la société mondaine romaine. Grand amateur d’art et collectionneur averti, Palewski joue un rôle majeur dans la restauration de Florence et préside le Comité français pour la sauvegarde de Venise.
Rappelé de Rome en avril 1962, Palewski entre dans le premier gouvernement Pompidou en qualité de ministre d’État chargé de la Recherche scientifique et des Questions atomiques et spatiales. Il conserve ce portefeuille jusqu’en février 1965. C’est sous son ministère que le plan atomique français et la mise en œuvre de la force de frappe nucléaire se développent. Gaston Palewski renforce la coopération internationale et développe les relations entre l’industrie et la recherche.
Palewski abandonne ses fonctions ministérielles le 4 mars 1965 pour succéder à Léon Noël à la tête du Conseil constitutionnel. C’est à ce titre qu’il enregistre les résultats du référendum de 1969 qui aboutit à la démission du général de Gaulle et valide l’élection de son successeur. Il achève son mandat de président de Conseil constitutionnel le 4 mars 1974.
Vice-président du conseil artistique des musées nationaux, Gaston Palewski est élu membre de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts, au fauteuil de Jacques Jaujard, le 24 avril 1968. En 1974, il devient directeur, puis président d’honneur de la Revue des Deux Mondes. Vice-président de l’Institut Charles-de-Gaulle depuis sa création, il en prend la présidence en 1976, succédant ainsi à André Malraux.
Après avoir entretenu une relation avec la romancière anglaise Nancy Mitford, Gaston Palewski épouse, le 20 mars 1969, Helen-Violette de Talleyrand-Périgord.
Gaston Palewski décède le 3 septembre 1984 au château du Marais au Val-Saint-Germain.
Décorations :
Grand-Croix de la Légion d’honneur.
Compagnon de la Libération.
Croix de guerre (1939-1945).
Grand-Croix de la couronne de Belgique.
Croix de guerre belge.
Mérite chérifien.
Grand-Croix de l’Étoile d’Éthiopie.
Grand-Croix du Mérite de la République italienne.
Médaille d’argent de l’Aéro-club de France en 1931.
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