Monument to Waldeck-Rousseau

Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau was born on December 2, 1846, in Nantes and passed away on August 10, 1904, in Corbeil-Essonnes. He was a French statesman. A Republican and liberal, he is primarily known for his role in the legalization of trade unions (the Waldeck-Rousseau law of 1884) and for the 1901 law on associations.

In 1899, amid the Dreyfus Affair, he was summoned by President Émile Loubet to form a government. As a prominent representative of the moderate Republicans and a minister under Gambetta and then Jules Ferry in the 1880s, Waldeck-Rousseau established a "Republican Defense" government. This included personalities from various political sensitivities, such as General de Galliffet and the independent socialist, Alexandre Millerand.

For nearly three years, his cabinet was the longest of the Third Republic. It marked a turning point in the Dreyfus Affair and followed an economic and social policy that combined social advancements (particularly embodied by Millerand) and a certain level of moderation (represented by the Minister of Finance, Joseph Caillaux). Overall, he was supported by the Republican camp, ranging from the Democratic Republican Alliance, which was close to business circles, to revolutionary socialists represented by Édouard Vaillant and Jules Guesde. Even though they criticized Millerand's participation, for a while, they still advocated for unification.

Around 1904: The party of the Republican Democratic Alliance, led by Adolphe Carnot, president of the General Council of Charente, and Joseph Magnin, senator, president of the General Council of Côte d'Or, honorary governor of the Bank of France, honorary president, formed a committee and started a subscription. The state granted the location despite the negative opinion of the Louvre architect Gaston Redon. The project sparked a lively controversy in the press, but the President of the Council confirmed the decision.

1910: July 8th, inauguration by President Fallières (funded by the Committee).

1942: Bronze parts were recast under the Vichy regime.

Around 1986: Transferred to the base of the terrace of the Jeu de Paume museum in Paris.

Under a Corinthian portico reminiscent of the Tuileries Palace, a glory holding a palm and flapping wings (recast during the Occupation) hovers above the bust of Waldeck-Rousseau, who is depicted wearing a frock coat under a toga. On the other side of the pedestal, decorated like an ancient altar with garlands, three standing figures evoke the law on professional unions. Democracy, wearing a Phrygian cap, protects the working class symbolized by two naked workers shaking hands; one holds a hammer, and the other holds large tongs.