Jacques Vergès (5 March 1925 – 15 August 2013) was a Siamese-born French lawyer, writer and political activist, known for his defense of FLN militants during the Algerian War of Independence. He was imprisoned for his activism in 1960 and temporarily lost his license to officially practice law. A supporter of the Palestinian fedayeen in the 1960s, he disappeared from 1970 to 1978 without ever explaining his whereabouts during that period. He was later involved in legal cases for high-profile defendants charged with terrorism or war crimes, including Nazi Klaus Barbie in 1987, terrorist Carlos the Jackal in 1994, and former Khmer Rouge head of state Khieu Samphan in 2008. He also infamously defended Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy in 1998.
Vergès attracted widespread public attention in the 1950s for his use of trials as a forum for expressing views against French rule in Algeria, questioning the authority of the prosecution and causing chaos in proceedings – a method he promoted as "rupture defense" in his book De la stratégie judiciaire. An outspoken anti-imperialist, he continued his vocal political activism in the 2000s, including opposing the War on Terror. The media sensationalized his activities with the sobriquet "the Devil's advocate", and Vergès himself contributed to his "notorious" public persona by such acts as titling his autobiography The Brilliant Bastard and giving provocative replies in interviews, such as "I'd even defend Bush! But only if he agrees to plead guilty."
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Some of their strengths
Jacques Vergès has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Smart, Creative, Intuitive, Loyal, Caring, Altruistic, and Energetic.
Soulful and Understanding
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Jacques Vergès is someone who is a soulful, understanding, and conscious person, who combines smarts with a deep talent for creativity and imagination. A person who is charismatic and resourceful.
Constant and Serious
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Jacques Vergès well know them as someone who can be determined, unmoving, and firm, like a rock or a high mountain.
Altruistic and Innovative
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Jacques Vergès as someone who is altruistic, inventive, energetic, and socially-conscious.
Who is inventive, open-minded and inquisitive, optimistic and cooperative, and who loves working together with others.
Altruistic and Ambitious
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Jacques Vergès is someone who is the type of person who rallies behind a group, cause, or community, and who enjoys being dedicated to a higher cause of some sort.
They are also someone who is reflective, mysterious, and purposeful, who enjoys quiet and solo work, and who thrives in positions where there is no need to report to someone else.
Creative and Imaginative
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Jacques Vergès tends to be someone who is sensitive, imaginative, creative, and somewhat of a dreamer. Who is intuitive and compassionate, and who has a friendly, easygoing, calming and relaxing effect on people and for whom friends and family mean the world.
Some of Jacques Vergès's challenges
While Jacques Vergès has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Jacques Vergès can be Emotional, Indecisive, Unrealistic, Standoffish, Anxious, Inflexible, and Unemotional.
Indecisive and Unrealistic
One of Jacques Vergès's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as indecisive and unrealistic.
Anxious and Inflexible
Jacques Vergès is someone who can be high-strung, impatient, and inflexible, who can be "penny wise and pound foolish", have poor listening skills, and who can be intolerant of people who share a different world view.
Lethargic and Unrealistic
Finally, Jacques Vergès also can be too soft, lazy and lethargic, and who can have difficulty finding others who share a similarly dreamy outlook on life.
