Former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin dies

Former French Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has died at the age of 88, broadcaster BFM reported.

Jospin served as prime minister from 1997 to 2002 under President Jacques Chirac, although they came from rival political camps.

During his time in office, he pushed through a series of landmark reforms. The working week was reduced from 39 hours to 35 hours, access to free healthcare was expanded, and registered partnerships were introduced, giving unmarried couples, both same-sex and heterosexual, rights similar to those of married couples.

His political career suffered a setback in 2002 when he ran for the presidency but Jean-Marie Le Pen went through to the second round of voting. Ten years later, President François Hollande appointed him chairman of his Commission on Renewal and Ethics in Public Life, tasked with tackling corruption in French politics.

Reflecting on his career, Jospin once said: 'For my part, in politics I have simply tried to respect the rules, to cultivate the principles of the Republic, to be honest and to honour my commitments'. He added that his government 'worked well for five years and avoided every scandal'.

(reuters, max)