Jean-René Van der Plaetsen (born 9 August 1962) is a French journalist and writer. He is Deputy Managing Editor ofLe Figaro Magazine. He has also been a member of the jury of thePrix de Flore since its creation in 1994.[1]
Born inLubumbashi, Republic of the Congo (formerBelgian Congo), Van der Plaetsen studied at theLycée Janson-de-Sailly (Paris), theCollège Saint-François-de-Sales (Évreux) [fr] then at the Collège Saint-Sulpice (Paris). He holds a law degree from theParis Descartes University and is a former student ofSciences Po.
Van der Plaetsen joinedLe Figaro in 1988, where he spent his entire career, includingle Figaro littéraire, culture, and politics (of which he was head of department), then editor-in-chief. In January 2008,Alexis Brézet [fr], then promoted to managing editor ofLe Figaro Magazine, brought him to the magazine and appointed him deputy managing editor, a position he still holds today.[2]
A friend ofMichel Houellebecq, he conducted a series of very long interviews with him, entitledUn été avec Michel Houellebecq, which appeared in five episodes inLe Figaro Magazine during the summer of 2015. We see the author ofAtomised confiding in complete freedom on the most diverse subjects - and interacting with philosopherAlain Finkielkraut[3] and rock-starIggy Pop.[4]
