As an apprentice mechanic Méric desired to become an accountant, qualifying on the eve of his departure for military service in 1939.
After the armistice he joined the Resistance, but was arrested and deported to the Rava-Ruska concentration camp, located in East Prussia.
He replaced Alain Poher as the head of the Upper House in 1969 when he became the Interim President of the Fifth French Republic.
In 1987, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the committee to review the draft resolution on the indictment before the High Court of Justice of Christian Nucci, former Minister Delegate of the Co-operation and Development Ministry.
In 1988, he joined the second Rocard government as Secretary of State for Veterans and War Victims and passed a special status for the prisoners of the Viet Minh during the Indochina War.