Reburying Albert Camus: French Sarkozy’s political ploy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy wanted to add Albert Camus to the giants of French history who are buried at the Pantheon — figures like Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola and Louis Pasteur — as a way of revering an author whose defense of the downtrodden and veneration of the individual over the oppressive forces of society earned him fame and respect around the globe. He told reporters at last week's European Union summit that it would be "a particularly pertinent choice" in time for the 50th anniversary of the author's death in January. A friend and biographer of Albert Camus has joined opposition to the idea of moving the legendary French author's remains to Paris. Olivier Todd said that the proposal would contradict the whole of Camus' life and work. A Nobel Prize-winner, Camus was seen as non-conformist and politically from the left. "He accepted the Nobel Prize but only to speak out about the fate of Algeria and the French population of Algeria". "Throughout his life, he refused honours," he said. Members of Camus' family have been contacted by the French authorities and their approval would be needed. His daughter, Catherine, has told French radio that she has doubts about the idea. Her brother, Jean, was quoted in Le Monde as saying it would contradict what Camus stood for.