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Édouard Balladur, former French Prime Minister, dies at 97

Édouard Balladur, a prominent figure of the French Fifth Republic and former Prime Minister, died in Paris on August 31, 2026, at the age of 97. Born in Smyrna, Turkey, in 1929, he rose through the political ranks, serving as Secretary General of the Élysée under Georges Pompidou and later as Minister of Economy and Finance from 1986 to 1988, where he implemented significant privatization programs.

Balladur served as Prime Minister from 1993 to 1995 during the second cohabitation under President François Mitterrand. His political career was marked by a complex relationship with longtime ally Jacques Chirac, evolving into a fierce rivalry during the 1995 presidential election. Balladur finished third in the first round of that election with approximately 18.6% of the vote.

Following his death, political leaders including President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu paid tribute to his service and reformist spirit. He was also remembered by Nicolas Sarkozy as a mentor and friend. His legacy includes significant economic shifts and his role in shaping contemporary French governance.

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Edouard Balladur · Emmanuel Macron · France · François Mitterrand · Georges Pompidou · Jacques Chirac · Nicolas Sarkozy · Sébastien Lecornu

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