2023-07-13 17:15:38
A weird president who falls off a moving train is the incredible story of Paul Deschanel, ex-president of the French Republic.
The guy was born in 1855 in Brussels in a neighborhood that the French can’t, but then can’t pronounce at all: “Charbec-les-Bruxelles” on the telematin set at France 2 or even “Cherbic” and “Cherbec ” on the set of Cyril Hanouna at C8, enough to make our Belgian ears bleed. Schaerbeek is called “Skarbéék”, ok? !
Paul is a man from a good family, like his godfather is Victor Hugo, just that! He studied literature, then law and quickly launched into political life. The guy is a great speaker, he has presence, class and a hell of a quickdraw! In short, in 1898, at the age of 43, he became Speaker of the Chamber.
In 1899 he became a member of the French Academy. But the guy has an ultimate goal: to become President of the Republic and he succeeds since he is elected by the National Assembly on January 17, 1920.
Except that at that time in France, it was the Third Republic and the president had almost no power. Paul Deschanel will live it very badly. Askip, the guy is downright twisted in terms of mental health.
Many rumors circulate that he had fun climbing the trees of the Élysée, or that he signed documents under the name of Vercingétorix or even Napoleon! But the most incredible episode is that of the train!
In fact, he was on the presidential train to an inauguration the next day. In the evening he didn’t feel well and he said to everyone: “Okay, I’m going to my cabin, don’t let anyone wake me up before 7 a.m.” Little pajamas, little sleeping pills and hop to sleep …
But during the night he wakes up and he is too hot. He then decides to open the window of his cabin and the guy, half awake, falls off the train! Fortunately, the train was not traveling fast at this location and it landed on fairly soft ground. He is very lightly injured, like a few bruises. But it’s dark and he’s all alone, in his pajamas, in the middle of nowhere.
Fortunately, barely a few hundred meters further, he comes across a railway worker who was doing his rounds. He says to him: “Uh, I am the President of the Republic.” The guy obviously doesn’t believe him and takes him to the gatekeeper who doesn’t believe him either!
It was only a few hours later that the sub-prefect of the region, who had heard of this funny story, showed up and recognized the president. And during that time the presidential train had traced its route and no one had noticed a thing!
This story really damaged the credibility of Paul Deschanel. Everyone took him for a zinzin and the caricaturists and other singers had a field day.
Witness the song “Le Pyjama Presidentiel” by Lucien Boyer: “He didn’t damage his pyjamas. It’s amazing but that’s the way it is. He hasn’t damaged his pajamas, he is the head of state!
Following this episode, Paul Deschanel fell into depression and on September 23, 1920, after a stay in a sanatorium to rest, he submitted his resignation. He will only have been president for 7 months and 3 days, it is the second shortest term in the history of France.
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