Conservative Édouard Balladur, prime minister of France from 1993 to 1995, died today in Paris at the age of 97. His term coincided with the final phase of socialist President François Mitterrand's presidency.
Balladur will be remembered in political history as the "thirty-year friend" of Jacques Chirac. However, the relationship between the two deteriorated during the heated 1995 presidential campaign, when they became direct rivals.
That campaign ultimately ended Balladur's presidential ambitions, as he was unable to achieve his political goals during that period.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, paid tribute to Balladur, describing him as "an exacting, measured, and dedicated servant" of France.
