Jean-Paul Huchon has died at the age of 80, in the night between Thursday, October 22, and Friday, October 23, 2026. One of his sons told AFP that he had died of cancer. For seventeen years, from 1998 to 2015, he served as president of the Île-de-France Regional Council.
His career is intertwined with the history of the region and of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, in the Yvelines. He served as mayor of the town from 1994 to 2001, succeeding Michel Rocard, whose chief of staff at Matignon he had also been from 1988 to 1991.
Elected president of the regional council in 1998, Jean-Paul Huchon remained at the helm of the Île-de-France regional executive until 2015, when Valérie Pécresse succeeded him. His long tenure made him one of the most recognizable figures in public life in Île-de-France, at a time when transport was central to the region’s plans.
As head of the Île-de-France Transport Syndicate (STIF), now known as Île-de-France Mobilités, he notably chairs the board meeting on February 11, 2015. The board approves the introduction of the all-zones Navigo pass, which gives holders access to the region’s buses, metros, trains and trams at the price then charged for zones 1 and 2.
The STIF archives also document the decisions made during this period on tramway extensions and the Grand Paris Express. They shed light on projects that continue to transform travel between Paris and its suburbs.
From Conflans-Sainte-Honorine to the regional council, Jean-Paul Huchon held several major positions in Île-de-France. His death comes eleven years after he left office as president of the region.
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
