Valéry Giscard d’Estaing has died this Wednesday December 2, 2020. He was holding the record for the longest longevity in French president since 2017, surviving two of his successors: François Mitterrand (1916-1996) and Jacques Chirac (1932-2019). He died aged 94 according to Europe 1. He was hospitalized since mid-November in Trousseau University Hospital cardiology department in Tours, and is said to have died “following Covid-19 diagnosis” – according to BFMTV. The former President had been already treated at the Georges-Pompidou hospital in Paris back in September for a “mild lung infection”.
Elected in 1974, his mandate has been specifically marked by societal reforms including decriminalization of abortion, divorce by mutual consent, as well as lowering legal age in France to 18 years old. We also owe him the return of the change of winter time, reinstated in 1976 enabling to save electricity on a domestic level. In 1981, he loses the presidential election over his successor François Mitterrand. He brought one final stroke to his mandated with a now cult speech because of the staging and the legendary “Au Revoir” (Goodbye).
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing’s funeral will be subject for national tribute like in 2019 for Jacques Chirac. More details as for the funeral will be shared soon.
