Former French Prime Minister Édouard Balladur dies at 97

The family of former French Prime Minister Édouard Balladur announced to Agence France-Presse that he died in Paris on Monday at the age of 97. Balladur was the last prime minister under President François Mitterrand, serving from March 1993 to May 1995. Political history will remember him as the “friend of thirty years” to Jacques Chirac, who later became his rival during the heated 1995 presidential campaign that put an end to his ambitions.

French President Emmanuel Macron praised Balladur as “a servant of France characterized by seriousness, moderation, and dedication.” Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on X, “He was a statesman with a reformist spirit, and he will remain a reference for many men and women in his political family.”

Balladur joined Georges Pompidou’s staff at the age of 35 while Pompidou was serving as prime minister under President Charles de Gaulle. He worked with Jacques Chirac during the events of May 1968, which involved student protests followed by a widespread general strike, to broker agreements between trade unions and the government. He moved with his mentor to the Élysée Palace when Pompidou became president, initially serving as deputy secretary-general and later as secretary-general of the presidency.

Amid the conflict between the left, led by President François Mitterrand, and the right, led by Jacques Chirac, Balladur’s appointment as prime minister was imposed by a fait accompli. Balladur became a widely popular prime minister, and with the support of public opinion and part of the right-wing, he announced his candidacy for the presidency in January 1995. However, his presidential bid failed against Chirac, after which he announced his retirement from political life.