Former President Valery Giscard d`Estaing, who championed European integration and helped modernise French society in the 1970s, has died at the age of 94 after contracting COVID-19.

Giscard`s foundation said he passed away in his family home in the Loir-et-Cher region of central France. He had been admitted to hospital in September with respiratory complications, and was hospitalised again in mid-November.

His funeral will be an intimate family affair, the Valery Giscard d`Estaing Foundation said on Twitter.

Giscard was elected president in 1974 at the age of 48 to become France`s youngest postwar leader.

At home, Giscard presided over a modernisation of French society, legalising abortion, allowing divorce by mutual consent and lowering the voting age to 18 from 21.

He sought to liberalise France`s economy, was the father of France`s high-speed TGV network, and projected the image of a young, modern president who was closer to the people than his predecessors.

Lawmakers held a minute`s silence in the National Assembly as tributes flowed in. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy said Giscard had "worked his whole life to reinforce relations between European nations."

Giscard forged a close relationship with former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt and together they laid the foundations for the euro single currency, setting up the European Monetary System.

He was also an ardent Anglophile, and took office a year after Britain joined the European Economic Community.

"Complete love-hate relationship with our country," Britain`s former Europe minister in the early 2000s, Denis McShane, said on a statement on Twitter, calling him a "big politician" who changed Europe.

Month`s before the Brexit referendum in 2016, he urged Britons to stay in the European Union.

Michel Barnier, a Frenchman and lead EU negotiator in talks over Europe`s future relationship with Britain, said: "For Valery Giscard d`Estaing, Europe needed to be a French ambition and France a modern nation. Respect."

Giscard served one term as president, losing his re-election bid to Socialist Francois Mitterrand in the aftermath of the global economic downturn of the 1970s.

Former President Valery Giscard d`Estaing, who championed European integration and helped modernise French society in the 1970s, has died at the age of 94 after contracting COVID-19.

Former President Valery Giscard d`Estaing, who championed European integration and helped modernise French society in the 1970s, has died at the age of 94 after contracting COVID-19. Giscard`s foundation said he passed away in his family home in the Loir-et-Cher region of central France. He had been admitted to hospital in September with respiratory complications, and was hospitalised again in mid-November. His funeral will be an intimate family affair, the Valery Giscard d`Estaing Foundation said on Twitter. Giscard was elected president in 1974 at the age of 48 to become France`s youngest postwar leader. At home, Giscard presided over a modernisation of French society, legalising abortion, allowing divorce by mutual consent and lowering the voting age to 18 from 21. He sought to liberalise France`s economy, was the father of France`s high-speed TGV network, and projected the image of a young, modern president who was closer to the people than his predecessors. Lawmakers held a minute`s silence in the National Assembly as tributes flowed in. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy said Giscard had "worked his whole life to reinforce relations between European nations." Giscard forged a close relationship with former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt and together they laid the foundations for the euro single currency, setting up the European Monetary System. He was also an ardent Anglophile, and took office a year after Britain joined the European Economic Community. "Complete love-hate relationship with our country," Britain`s former Europe minister in the early 2000s, Denis McShane, said on a statement on Twitter, calling him a "big politician" who changed Europe. Month`s before the Brexit referendum in 2016, he urged Britons to stay in the European Union. Michel Barnier, a Frenchman and lead EU negotiator in talks over Europe`s future relationship with Britain, said: "For Valery Giscard d`Estaing, Europe needed to be a French ambition and France a modern nation. Respect." Giscard served one term as president, losing his re-election bid to Socialist Francois Mitterrand in the aftermath of the global economic downturn of the 1970s.

Former French president Giscard d'Estaing dies of Covid complications

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will face trial for corruption and influence peddling. Watch this video to know more.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to face trial

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh said Saturday that former French president Francois Hollande’s remarks on the Rafale aircraft deal have proved it was a “big scam”.&nbsp;

The Rajya Sabha MP’s remark on the purchase of 36 fighter jets from France came a day after Hollande was quoted by the French media as purportedly saying that the Indian government proposed Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence as the partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 58,000-crore deal and France did not have a choice.

The report in ‘Mediapart’, a French-language publication, quoted Hollande as saying, “It was the Indian government that proposed this service group, and Dassault which negotiated with Ambani. We had no choice, we took the interlocutor who was given to us.”

Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Singh said, “The statement made by former French president Francois Hollande on the Rafale deal is shocking and it proves that the Rafale deal is a big scam.”

“The Modi government should tell why the offset contract was given to Reliance Defence. Hollande’s statement proves that the Modi government favoured Reliance Defence in getting the offset contract,” he said.

Under India’s offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities.

According to Singh, a joint statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hollande in 2015 has come to the fore now and it showed that there was no change in the technology of the aircraft in the new deal. “It is the same technology as was finalised during UPA-II,” he said.

He said the government should reveal why the cost of Rs 540 crore per aircraft went up to Rs 1,670 crore and the offset contract was given to Reliance Defence, formed 12 days before the announcement of the Rafale deal.

“The country suffered losses to the tune of Rs 36,000 crore…about Rs 1,000 per aircraft. It is the biggest scam in defence deal that the country has ever seen,” Singh said. He alleged that the statement made by Hollande proved that the Modi government proposed Reliance Defence for the offset partner, dropped Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and thus favoured Reliance.

“The PM should clarify on this aspect. The defence minister should resign and an investigation should be launched to find who got the Rs 36,000 crore… A JPC probe should be initiated,” Singh demanded.

The AAP leader also said that his party will contest upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, and on 80 to 100 seats in next Lok Sabha polls.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh said Saturday that former French president Francois Hollande’s remarks on the Rafale aircraft deal have proved it was a “big scam”.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh said Saturday that former French president Francois Hollande’s remarks on the Rafale aircraft deal have proved it was a “big scam”. The Rajya Sabha MP’s remark on the purchase of 36 fighter jets from France came a day after Hollande was quoted by the French media as purportedly saying that the Indian government proposed Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence as the partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 58,000-crore deal and France did not have a choice. The report in ‘Mediapart’, a French-language publication, quoted Hollande as saying, “It was the Indian government that proposed this service group, and Dassault which negotiated with Ambani. We had no choice, we took the interlocutor who was given to us.” Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Singh said, “The statement made by former French president Francois Hollande on the Rafale deal is shocking and it proves that the Rafale deal is a big scam.” “The Modi government should tell why the offset contract was given to Reliance Defence. Hollande’s statement proves that the Modi government favoured Reliance Defence in getting the offset contract,” he said. Under India’s offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities. According to Singh, a joint statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hollande in 2015 has come to the fore now and it showed that there was no change in the technology of the aircraft in the new deal. “It is the same technology as was finalised during UPA-II,” he said. He said the government should reveal why the cost of Rs 540 crore per aircraft went up to Rs 1,670 crore and the offset contract was given to Reliance Defence, formed 12 days before the announcement of the Rafale deal. “The country suffered losses to the tune of Rs 36,000 crore…about Rs 1,000 per aircraft. It is the biggest scam in defence deal that the country has ever seen,” Singh said. He alleged that the statement made by Hollande proved that the Modi government proposed Reliance Defence for the offset partner, dropped Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and thus favoured Reliance. “The PM should clarify on this aspect. The defence minister should resign and an investigation should be launched to find who got the Rs 36,000 crore… A JPC probe should be initiated,” Singh demanded. The AAP leader also said that his party will contest upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, and on 80 to 100 seats in next Lok Sabha polls.

Francois Hollande’s remarks prove Rafale a big scam: AAP leader Sanjay Singh

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in custody over an investigation into campaign funding, sources claim.

He is to be questioned as part of a probe into suspected irregularities over his election campaign financing, according to an official in the French judiciary.

The probe related to alleged Libyan funding for Sarkozy&#39;s 2007 campaign, Le Monde newspaper reported.

A lawyer for Sarkozy could not be reached immediately for comment.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is being held in police custody over campaign financing, according to reports.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in custody over an investigation into campaign funding, sources claim. He is to be questioned as part of a probe into suspected irregularities over his election campaign financing, according to an official in the French judiciary. The probe related to alleged Libyan funding for Sarkozy's 2007 campaign, Le Monde newspaper reported. A lawyer for Sarkozy could not be reached immediately for comment.

Ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy 'arrested over campaign financing'

Former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy launched a fresh bid today to win back the presidency, announcing he would seek the nomination of his centre-right party to run in next year&#39;s election. 
 
The pugnacious 61-year-old conservative, who was deeply unpopular by the end of his five years as president, had made no secret of his ambition to reconquer the top office. 
 
&quot;I have decided to be a candidate in the 2017 presidential election,&quot; Sarkozy, who was voted out of office in 2012, wrote in the foreword to a new book &quot;Tout pour la France&quot; (All for France) due out later this week. 
 
&quot;France demands that you give her your all. I feel I have the strength to lead the fight at such a turbulent moment in our history,&quot; he wrote in the book extract seen by AFP, alluding to the string of terror attacks that have rocked the country in the past year and a half. 
 
His aides told AFP he would be stepping down Monday as the leader of the Republicans party to focus on his campaign. 
 
&quot;This book is the starting point,&quot; Sarkozy tweeted, together with a link to the foreword. &quot;The next five years will be filled with danger but also with hope,&quot; he wrote. 
 
Sarkozy listed five main challenges in the years ahead: keeping promises made to the nation, defending national identity, restoring lost competitiveness, enforcing state authority and striving &quot;to restore confidence and hope in the future&quot;. 
 
&#39;Minority blackmail&#39; 
 
His announcement that he will seek his party&#39;s nomination at a primary in November comes in the midst of a resurgent debate over the place of Islam in French society, encapsulated in the row over the Islamic &quot;burkini&quot; swimsuit. 
 
Sarkozy said France&#39;s &quot;principal battle&quot; was over how &quot;to defend our lifestyle without being tempted to cut ourselves off from the rest of the world&quot;. 
 
The opposition leader, who has repeatedly dismissed socialist President Francois Hollande as weak, said he would also restore authority in neighbourhoods where he said &quot;minorities are successfully blackmailing the current authorities&quot;. 
 
The politician, who was defeated in his bid for reelection in 2012 after conducting a campaign seen by many in his own camp as too right-wing, faces several challengers for the conservative nomination. His chief rival, popular former premier and Bordeaux mayor Alain Juppe who is seen as a moderate, is the favourite to win the nod. 
 
But Juppe&#39;s lead in opinion polls has shrunk in recent weeks as Sarkozy steps up his rhetoric on Islamist extremists and immigration in the wake of last month&#39;s massacre in Nice. 
 
Legal woes 
 
&quot;War has been declared on us,&quot; Sarkozy said in an interview with Valeurs Actuelles magazine in mid-August. 
 
&quot;The barbarians who are attacking us believe we are weak,&quot; he said, calling for a &quot;merciless&quot; response. 
 
Sarkozy has already won the support of a Republicans heavyweight in the shape of Christian Estrosi, president of the southern region that includes Marseille. 
 
&quot;He is the best candidate,&quot; Estrosi told the Journal de Dimanche yesterday. 
 
If Sarkozy wins, he could face a rematch against Hollande, who has said he too has the &quot;desire&quot; for a second term, despite opinion polls overwhelmingly showing the French wanting neither man as their leader. During his term in office, Hollande has surpassed Sarkozy to become the most unpopular president in post-war France. 
 
Sarkozy would also face far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who is tipped to make it to a second round of voting. 
 
The man known as &quot;President Bling-Bling&quot; for his flashy lifestyle and cosy ties with tycoons while in office, never digested his 2012 defeat by Hollande, whom he had written off as &quot;useless.&quot; After telling the French before his defeat they would never hear from him if vanquished, Sarkozy made a comeback to frontline politics in 2014. 
 
And a host of legal troubles has failed to dent his ambition of returning to the Elysee Palace. 
 
(AFP)

The 61-year-old said he would restore authority in neighbourhoods where 'minorities are successfully blackmailing the current authorities'

Former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy launched a fresh bid today to win back the presidency, announcing he would seek the nomination of his centre-right party to run in next year's election. The pugnacious 61-year-old conservative, who was deeply unpopular by the end of his five years as president, had made no secret of his ambition to reconquer the top office. "I have decided to be a candidate in the 2017 presidential election," Sarkozy, who was voted out of office in 2012, wrote in the foreword to a new book "Tout pour la France" (All for France) due out later this week. "France demands that you give her your all. I feel I have the strength to lead the fight at such a turbulent moment in our history," he wrote in the book extract seen by AFP, alluding to the string of terror attacks that have rocked the country in the past year and a half. His aides told AFP he would be stepping down Monday as the leader of the Republicans party to focus on his campaign. "This book is the starting point," Sarkozy tweeted, together with a link to the foreword. "The next five years will be filled with danger but also with hope," he wrote. Sarkozy listed five main challenges in the years ahead: keeping promises made to the nation, defending national identity, restoring lost competitiveness, enforcing state authority and striving "to restore confidence and hope in the future". 'Minority blackmail' His announcement that he will seek his party's nomination at a primary in November comes in the midst of a resurgent debate over the place of Islam in French society, encapsulated in the row over the Islamic "burkini" swimsuit. Sarkozy said France's "principal battle" was over how "to defend our lifestyle without being tempted to cut ourselves off from the rest of the world". The opposition leader, who has repeatedly dismissed socialist President Francois Hollande as weak, said he would also restore authority in neighbourhoods where he said "minorities are successfully blackmailing the current authorities". The politician, who was defeated in his bid for reelection in 2012 after conducting a campaign seen by many in his own camp as too right-wing, faces several challengers for the conservative nomination. His chief rival, popular former premier and Bordeaux mayor Alain Juppe who is seen as a moderate, is the favourite to win the nod. But Juppe's lead in opinion polls has shrunk in recent weeks as Sarkozy steps up his rhetoric on Islamist extremists and immigration in the wake of last month's massacre in Nice. Legal woes "War has been declared on us," Sarkozy said in an interview with Valeurs Actuelles magazine in mid-August. "The barbarians who are attacking us believe we are weak," he said, calling for a "merciless" response. Sarkozy has already won the support of a Republicans heavyweight in the shape of Christian Estrosi, president of the southern region that includes Marseille. "He is the best candidate," Estrosi told the Journal de Dimanche yesterday. If Sarkozy wins, he could face a rematch against Hollande, who has said he too has the "desire" for a second term, despite opinion polls overwhelmingly showing the French wanting neither man as their leader. During his term in office, Hollande has surpassed Sarkozy to become the most unpopular president in post-war France. Sarkozy would also face far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who is tipped to make it to a second round of voting. The man known as "President Bling-Bling" for his flashy lifestyle and cosy ties with tycoons while in office, never digested his 2012 defeat by Hollande, whom he had written off as "useless." After telling the French before his defeat they would never hear from him if vanquished, Sarkozy made a comeback to frontline politics in 2014. And a host of legal troubles has failed to dent his ambition of returning to the Elysee Palace. (AFP)

Sarkozy announces new bid for French presidency

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Former French president Giscard d'Estaing dies of Covid complications

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to face trial

Francois Hollande’s remarks prove Rafale a big scam: AAP leader Sanjay Singh

Ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy 'arrested over campaign financing'

Sarkozy announces new bid for French presidency