Former PM and Line Renaud among those awarded French Legion of Honour

Former Prime Minister Jean Castex, actress and activist Line Renaud, American jazz singer Rhoda Scott and head of the vaccination campaign Alain Fischer are among those to have been awarded the Légion d'honneur for July 14.

The list of names was published in the Journal Officiel today (July 14, France’s Fête nationale), and included three people awarded the highest level of grand-croix, three grands officiers, 14 commandeurs, 39 officiers and 270 chevaliers (knights).

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In order to be awarded the grand-croix, a person must have spent a minimum of three years as a grand-officier, who in turn must have spent three years as a commandeur and so on.

Line Renaud, actress, singer, and anti-AIDS activist, was given the grand-croix for her work as co-founder of the AIDS activism association Sidaction.

Former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin was also awarded this honour, as was Serge Klarsfeld, co-founder of the association Fils et Filles des Déportés Juifs de France (Sons and Daughters of the Jews Deported in France). His wife, Beate Klarsfeld, received the grand officier award.

The American jazz organist and singer Rhoda Scott – who married the late Frenchman and former actor and singer Raoul Saint-Yves in 1969 after moving to Paris – was awarded the accolade of chevalier.

Awards also included:

• Grand officier: Immunologist Professor Alain Fischer, president of the vaccination strategy council

• Commandeur: Former Prime Minister Jean Castex, former ministers Roselyne Bachelot and Jean-Pierre Chevènement, and Véronique Cayla, president of the César film academy

• Officier: Former ministers Jean-Michel Blanquer, Florence Parly and Jean-Yves Le Drian, journalist Claire Chazal, and Catherine Pégard, president of the Château de Versailles

• Chevalier: Actress Marlène Jobert, former international footballer Luis Fernandez, former rugby union player and now coach Fabien Galthié; and Annick Hayraud, manager of the French’s women's rugby team

• Chevalier à titre exceptionnel: Motorcycle rider Fabio Quartararo and rally driver Sébastien Ogier

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