France Ex-PM Lionel Jospin Dies at 88

Former French prime minister Lionel Jospin has died at the age of 88, his family confirmed. The Socialist leader, who served as prime minister from 1997 to 2002, died on Sunday.

He had earlier revealed he underwent a major operation in January and was recuperating at home, though he did not disclose further details.

Known for introducing the 35-hour work week and civil partnerships for same-sex couples, Jospin was widely regarded by supporters as principled and disciplined, while critics often described him as lacking political charisma.

His political career suffered a major setback in the 2002 presidential election, when he finished behind far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen in the first round, despite expectations he would face incumbent Jacques Chirac in the runoff. The defeat led to his immediate withdrawal from politics.

Born in 1937 in Meudon, near Paris, Jospin came from a middle-class Protestant family and later described his upbringing as modest, noting that he had no desire to belong to an elite class.

After studying at the elite École nationale d’administration, he began his career in the foreign ministry and academia before joining François Mitterrand in efforts to reform the Socialist Party. Following Mitterrand’s election in 1981, Jospin became a key figure within the party and later served as its leader.

He was elected to parliament and, in 1988, appointed education minister under Prime Minister Michel Rocard, during which time he oversaw the creation of several universities.

Jospin lost the 1995 presidential election narrowly to Chirac but returned to power in 1997 after a surprise Socialist victory in legislative elections, leading to a period of cohabitation with Chirac as president.

During his tenure, he pursued economic reforms, reduced unemployment, and pushed through major social policies, including labour reforms and civil unions, which later paved the way for same-sex marriage legislation.

However, his 2002 presidential bid ended in a shock third-place finish behind Chirac and Le Pen, one of the most significant upsets in modern French politics. Accepting responsibility for the loss, Jospin announced his retirement the same night.