Jean-Hugues Colonna

Jean-Hugues Dieudonné Colonna was a French Socialist Party politician.

Life and career

Born in Cargèse, Corse-du-Sud, Colonna was transferred to Nice in 1975 as a teacher of physical education. He served in the National [Assembly (France)|National Assembly] representing Alpes-Maritimes's 3rd constituency and Alpes-Maritimes at large. While in the Assembly, he was an advisor on Corsican affairs for Gaston Defferre, the Minister of the Interior. In 1988, he was defeated in the run-off for the 5th constituency of the department by Christian Estrosi. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in April 1998 for "34 years of civil and military service, trade union activities and elected public service".
Colonna also served as a Nice city councillor from 1977 until 1995, when he resigned in order to move to Cargèse.
Colonna was married to Cécile Riou, a fellow teacher and co-worker from Finistère, Brittany, from 1957 until her death in 2025. They had three children, including Yvan Colonna, the Corsican nationalist who was convicted of the murder of prefect Claude Érignac in 1998 and was himself murdered in prison in 2022.
Colonna died in Cargèse on 14 January 2026, at the age of 91.