Lionel Jospin, former French Prime Minister, dies at 88.

Exam-focused facts from the 25 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Lionel Jospin served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002.
He introduced the 35-hour work week and extended free healthcare through universal health coverage.
Jospin was born on 12 July 1937 in Meudon and studied at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris and École Nationale d'Administration.
He led a left-wing coalition called the 'gauche plurielle' during cohabitation with President Jacques Chirac.
Jospin was eliminated in the first round of the 2002 presidential election after far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen advanced.
He announced his retirement from politics on election night in 2002.
Jospin later served on France's Constitutional Council from 2015 to 2019.