00:00Former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has died at the age of 88, his family confirmed on London.
00:06A titan of the Socialist Party, Jospin served as head of government from 1997 to 2002
00:12during a period of cohabitation with centre-right President Jacques Chirac.
00:16His premiership was defined by landmark social reforms that reshaped French society,
00:21most notably the reduction of the working week to 35 hours and the introduction of universal health coverage.
00:26Jospin also pioneered civil unions, granting legal rights to same-sex partnerships
00:32long before the legislation of marriage equality in France.
00:35Guided by the philosophy of yes to the market economy, no to a market society,
00:41he sought a middle ground between capitalism and socialism.
00:44His political career came to an abrupt end in 2002
00:47following a shock first-round defeat to far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen in the presidential election.
00:54Following his retirement from frontline politics,
00:57Jospin served on France's Constitutional Council until 2019.
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