{{Short description|French politician (1951–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Damien Alary | office3 = Vice-president of the Regional Council of Languedoc-Roussillon | birth_date = {{birth date|1951|01|17|df=y}} | birth_place = Pompignan, France | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|8|27|1951|1|17|df=y}} | death_place = | successor5 = Claude Reynard | predecessor5 = Marcel Valat | term_end5 = 5 March 1999 | term_start5 = 3 February 1979 | office5 = Mayor of Pompignan | successor4 = William Dumas | predecessor4 = Alain Journet | term_end4 = 29 September 2014 | term_start4 = 23 March 2001 | office4 = Chairman of the Departmental Council of Gard | president3 = Georges Frêche | term_end3 = 24 October 2010 | term_start3 = 28 March 2004 | successor2 = Carole Delga | native_name = | president = Carole Delga | native_name_lang = fr | image = Damien Alary.jpg | caption = Alary in 2009 | office = Vice-President of the Regional Council of Occitania | term_start = 4 January 2016 | term_end = 2 July 2021 | office1 = Regional Councilor of Occitania | predecessor2 = Christian Bourquin | term_start1 = 13 December 2015 | term_end1 = 2 July 2021 | president1 = Carole Delga | office2 = President of the Regional Council of Languedoc-Roussillon | term_start2 = 29 September 2014 | term_end2 = 31 December 2015 | party = {{Unbulleted list |PS (1976–2010) |DVG (2010) |PS (2010–2025)}} }}
'''Damien Joseph Marius Alary''' ({{IPA|fr|damjɛ̃ alaʁi}}; 17 January 1951 – 27 August 2025) was a French politician and a member of the Socialist Party.
Alary was the president of the departmental council of Gard from 2001 to 2014, then briefly president of the regional council of Languedoc-Roussillon from 2014 to 2015.
== Life and career ==
=== Political career === Alary joined the Socialist Party in 1977 after a meeting with Michel Rocard.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=23 October 2014|title=Damien Alary, défenseur du Languedoc-Roussillon|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/2014/10/damien-alary-defenseur-du-languedoc-roussillon-295713|access-date=12 August 2021|website=Les Echos|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=LesBiographies.com|url=https://www.lesbiographies.com/Mobile/|access-date=12 August 2021|website=www.lesbiographies.com}}</ref>
In 1979, he was elected mayor of Pompignan;<ref>{{Cite web|last=AFP|title=Damien Alary élu à la présidence de la région Languedoc-Roussillon|url=https://www.liberation.fr/france/2014/09/29/damien-alary-elu-a-la-presidence-de-la-region-languedoc-roussillon_1110937/|access-date=12 August 2021|website=Libération|language=fr}}</ref> in 1986, regional councilor of Languedoc-Roussillon,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Damien Alary nouveau président de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2014/09/30/1961689-damien-alary-nouveau-president-de-la-region.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=ladepeche.fr|language=fr}}</ref> and in 1988, general councilor of the canton of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort.<ref name="france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr">{{Cite web|title=Damien Alary est officiellement candidat à la présidence du Languedoc-Roussillon|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/herault/montpellier-metropole/montpellier/damien-alary-est-officiellement-candidat-presidence-du-languedoc-roussillon-543580.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=France 3 Occitanie|language=fr-FR}}</ref>
He was elected in Gard's <abbr>5th</abbr> constituency in 1997<ref>{{Cite web|title=Résultats des élections législatives de 1997 dans la 5e circonscription du Gard - Politiquemania|url=https://www.politiquemania.com/legislatives-1997-circonscription-gard-5.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=www.politiquemania.com}}</ref> and re-elected in 2002,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Résultats des élections législatives de 2002 dans la 5e circonscription du Gard - Politiquemania|url=https://www.politiquemania.com/legislatives-2002-circonscription-gard-5.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=www.politiquemania.com}}</ref> from the Socialist Group.
After having chaired the socialist group, under the presidency of Alain Journet, within the general council of Gard from 1998 to 2001, he was elected president in 2001.<ref name="france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr"/>
In 2004, he was elected first vice-president of the Regional Council. After the regional elections of 2004, he resigned because of multiple mandates.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gasquez|first=Antoine|date=29 September 2014|title=Région LR : Damien Alary élu président à la majorité absolue|url=https://www.lasemaineduroussillon.com/2014/09/29/region-lr-damien-alary-elu-president-a-la-majorite-absolue/|access-date=12 August 2021|website=La Semaine du Roussillon|language=fr-FR}}</ref>
On 23 February 2010, he was excluded from the Socialist Party following his rallying to the list led by Georges Frêche against that of the PS.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=LANGUEDOC ROUSSILLON - Damien ALARY nouveau Président de Région|url=https://www.herault-tribune.com/articles/languedoc-roussillon-damien-alary-nouveau-president-de-region/|url-status=live|access-date=12 August 2021|website=herault-tribune.com|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517040219/https://www.herault-tribune.com/articles/languedoc-roussillon-damien-alary-nouveau-president-de-region/ |archive-date=17 May 2021 }}</ref>
On 28 October 2010, after the death of Georges Frêche, the group of socialists excluded and related to the Regional Council elects its candidate for the presidency of the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Alary lost against Christian Bourquin by 13 votes against 18 in secret ballots.<ref name=":2" /> The following 10 November, Christian Bourquin was elected president of the regional council, and Robert Navarro replaced Damien Alary from the post of first vice-president he had held since 2004.<ref name=":1" /> Alary then asked for his reinstatement in the PS, which he then obtained.<ref name=":1" />
Suffering from laryngeal cancer, which he revealed himself in 2011, Alary retained all of his elected functions and mandates. In January 2012, he affirmed “[to be] still good for the service” and “intact in [his] commitment”.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 September 2014|title=Damien Alary, un homme en bonne santé pour la présidence de la région Languedoc-Roussillon|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/politique/damien-alary-un-homme-en-bonne-sante-pour-la-presidence-de-la-region-languedoc-roussillon-1409935630|access-date=12 August 2021|website=France Bleu|language=fr}}</ref>
After considering a candidacy for the 2014 municipal elections in Nîmes,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gard : Damien Alary bientôt candidat aux municipales de Nîmes|url=https://www.midilibre.fr/2013/02/09/ps-les-grandes-manoeuvres-nimoises-ont-commence-pour-le-futur-candidat-alary,641381.php|access-date=12 August 2021|website=midilibre.fr|language=fr}}</ref> Alary announced his resignation on 10 September 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2013|title=MUNICIPALES 2014. Damien Alary renonce à la mairie de Nîmes !|url=https://www.objectifgard.com/2013/09/10/municipales-2014-damien-alary-renonce-a-la-mairie-de-nimes/|access-date=12 August 2021|website=Objectif Gard|language=fr-FR}}</ref>
After the death of Christian Bourquin on 26 August 2014, Alary announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Regional Council of Languedoc-Roussillon.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 September 2014|title=LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON Damien Alary est officiellement candidat pour la présidence de la région|url=https://www.objectifgard.com/2014/09/03/languedoc-roussillon-damien-alary-est-officiellement-candidat-pour-la-presidence-de-la-region/|access-date=12 August 2021|website=Objectif Gard|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Damien Alary élu président du conseil régional du Languedoc-Roussillon|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2014/09/29/1961530-damien-alary-elu-president-du-conseil-regional-du-languedoc-roussillon.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=ladepeche.fr|language=fr}}</ref> He was elected by the regional council on 29 September.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Damien Alary élu nouveau Président de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon - News - Actualités|url=https://www.polemermediterranee.com/Actualites/News/Damien-Alary-elu-nouveau-President-de-la-Region-Languedoc-Roussillon|access-date=12 August 2021|website=www.polemermediterranee.com}}</ref>
In September 2015, it took the position, with Jean-Claude Gayssot, for the implementation of a European policy for welcoming “Mediterranean refugees”.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Colmon|first=Mylene|title=Damien Alary pour la mise en oeuvre d'une politique européenne d'accueil des réfugiés méditerranéens|url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://www.toutmontpellier.fr/damien-alary-pour-la-mise-en-oeuvre-d-une-politique-europeenne-d-accueil-des-refugies-mediterraneens--133927.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=archive.wikiwix.com|language=fr-FR}}</ref> On 7 October 2015, he succeeded Francina Armengol as the president of the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 October 2015|title=LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON Damien Alary est le nouveau président de l’Eurorégion Pyrénées-Méditerranée|url=https://www.objectifgard.com/2015/10/07/languedoc-roussillon-damien-alary-est-le-nouveau-president-de-leuroregion-pyrenees-mediterranee/|access-date=12 August 2021|website=Objectif Gard|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Damien Alary (encore) président|url=https://www.lindependant.fr/2015/10/07/damien-alary-encore-president,2094871.php|access-date=12 August 2021|website=lindependant.fr|language=fr}}</ref>
During the 2015 regional election in Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées, head of the PS list in Gard, he announced that he was leading his "last political fight".<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 October 2015|title=RÉGIONALES Le PS-PRG du Gard derrière Alary pour son dernier combat|url=https://www.objectifgard.com/2015/10/22/regionales-le-ps-prg-du-gard-derriere-alary-pour-son-dernier-combat/|access-date=12 August 2021|website=Objectif Gard|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=6 élus du Languedoc-Roussillon obtiennent une vice-présidence à la région|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/herault/montpellier-metropole/montpellier/6-elus-du-languedoc-roussillon-obtiennent-vice-presidence-region-897049.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=France 3 Occitanie|language=fr-FR}}</ref>
=== Personal life and death === Coming from a family of Pompignan wine growers,<ref name=":0" /> he owned a vineyard and olive grove.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 April 2003|title=Vie publique|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/informations/vie-publique_651132.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr}}</ref> He was married and had a son, Yannick, born in 1976, who became a notary in Alès. Alary died on 27 August 2025, at the age of 74.<ref>[https://www.midilibre.fr/2025/08/27/il-etait-lhomme-de-tous-les-combats-politiques-damien-alary-ancien-president-du-conseil-regional-sest-eteint-a-lage-de-74-ans-12895693.php Il était l’homme de tous les combats politiques : Damien Alary, ancien président du conseil régional, s’est éteint à l’âge de 74 ans] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
== Distinctions == left|frameless|75x75px On 3 June 2010, Alary received the Legion of Honour from Simone Veil at the Luxembourg Palace.
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alary, Damien}} Category:1951 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Members of the Regional Council of Occitania (administrative region) Category:Regional councillors of France Category:Departmental councillors (France) Category:People from Gard Category:Politicians from Occitania (administrative region) Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour Category:Officers of the Order of Agricultural Merit