Former French Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin died at age 88, broadcaster BFM reported.
Lionel Jospin served as the prime minister of France from 1997 to 2002, leading a coalition government under the centre-right presidency of Jacques Chirac.
His tenure was defined by the unique political arrangement known as “cohabitation,” where the president and prime minister belonged to opposing political camps.
A career diplomat and academic by training, Jospin rose through the ranks of the Socialist Party (PS), eventually becoming its first secretary. After narrow defeats in previous elections, he led a coalition of socialists, communists, and greens—dubbed the “plural left”—to a surprise victory in the 1997 legislative elections.
As prime minister, Jospin implemented several landmark social and economic reforms that remain central to French public life:
- The 35-hour work week: A flagship policy aimed at reducing unemployment and improving work-life balance.
- Universal health coverage (CMU): Expanding access to healthcare for low-income residents.
- Civil solidarity pacts (PACS): The introduction of legal domestic partnerships for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
