Valery Giscard d’Estaing.
Valery Giscard d’Estaing, the president of France from 1974 to 1981 who became a champion of European integration, has died at the age of 94, his office and the French presidency announced.
Mr Giscard d’Estaing had recently been taken to hospital in Tours, in central France. His office did not provide any further details.
Born in 1926, Mr Giscard d’Estaing served in the Free French army that helped liberate France during the Second World War.
Charles de Gaulle named him finance minister at age 36.
As president, he helped forge a single Europe with his close friend, German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here