François Pietri was a top fencer who was Moroccan épée champion in 1920, and made the finals of the 1921 French Championships in the épée. He served as President of the National Fencing Federation from 1931-45. Pietri spent his career in public service, being elected to Parliament in 1924 from his native Corsica. He was Minister of National Defense in 1932 and for the Colonies in 1933, and from 1933-36 was Minister of Marine. In World War II he served under the Vichy government, first as Minister of Public Works and then as Ambassador to Spain. He continued to live in Spain after the War, but was tried in absentia by the French High Court for his wartime activity. Pietri was deprived of his civil rights for five years. Despite not living in France, and having no official status for five years, Pietri remained an IOC Member from his date of co-option in May 1934 until his death in August 1966.
France