23.03.2026 13:31
Former French socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin has passed away at the age of 88. Jospin served from 1997 to 2002 and was known for his social reforms. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced Jospin's death and extended his condolences to the family.
It was reported that Lionel Jospin, who served as "socialist prime minister" in France from 1997 to 2002, passed away yesterday at the age of 88. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the news of Jospin's death through a statement on the social media platform of the US-based company X, extending his condolences to Jospin's family and loved ones.
Lecornu stated that Jospin, who served as prime minister, minister, secretary general of the Socialist Party (PS), member of parliament, and member of the Constitutional Council in France, served his country with a sense of responsibility.
ELECTED AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1981
According to news from the national press, Jospin's family announced that the former Prime Minister passed away yesterday. Born on July 12, 1937, in Meudon, France, Jospin graduated from the National School of Administration (ENA), which has trained many high-level state officials in the country. Jospin worked as a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as an educator in higher education. Jospin, who became a member of the Socialist Party in 1971, was known for his closeness to former socialist French President François Mitterrand.
Jospin was first elected as a member of parliament in France in June 1981 and held this position for many years. Lionel Jospin served as a member of the European Parliament (EP) from 1984 to 1988 and as Minister of Education from 1988 to 1992. Jospin, who was the "socialist prime minister" of former center-right French President Jacques Chirac from 1997 to 2002, ran for the presidential elections in 2002.
REDUCED WEEKLY WORKING HOURS TO 35
In the first round of the presidential elections held in France on April 21, 2002, Jospin, who came in third behind the far-right, announced that he was withdrawing from politics that same evening. Jospin was known for his social reforms during his prime ministership, particularly for reducing the weekly working hours to 35.
Lionel Jospin underwent a serious operation in January but had not made any statements to the press regarding the reason and details of the operation.