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Giscard

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was a French politician and statesman who served as the President of France from 1974 to 1981. Born on February 2, 1926, in Coblence, Germany, to a French father and a German mother, he spent his early years in France before returning to Germany during World War II. After the war, he studied law and political science at the Sorbonne in Paris, where he later became a professor.

Giscard entered politics in the 1950s, initially as a member of the Union for French Democracy (UFD),

Giscard became President of France in 1974, succeeding Pompidou, and was re-elected in 1978. His presidency

Internationally, Giscard played a key role in European integration, advocating for closer ties between France and

After leaving office, Giscard continued to be active in public life, serving as a member of the

a
liberal
center
party.
He
held
various
ministerial
positions
under
Presidents
Charles
de
Gaulle
and
Georges
Pompidou,
including
Minister
of
Finance
and
Minister
of
Foreign
Affairs.
His
tenure
as
Minister
of
Foreign
Affairs
(1974–1976)
was
marked
by
his
efforts
to
improve
Franco-German
relations
and
his
role
in
the
European
integration
process.
was
characterized
by
economic
liberalization,
including
the
deregulation
of
certain
sectors
and
the
privatization
of
state-owned
enterprises.
He
also
introduced
significant
reforms
in
education,
such
as
the
introduction
of
the
baccalauréat
général,
and
promoted
environmental
policies,
including
the
establishment
of
the
French
National
Commission
on
Environmental
Protection.
Germany,
and
was
instrumental
in
the
signing
of
the
Treaty
of
Maastricht,
which
laid
the
groundwork
for
the
European
Union.
He
was
also
a
vocal
advocate
for
disarmament
and
nuclear
non-proliferation.
European
Parliament
and
the
Senate.
He
has
been
recognized
for
his
contributions
to
French
and
European
politics,
receiving
numerous
honors,
including
the
Grand
Cross
of
the
Legion
of
Honor
and
the
Order
of
Merit
of
the
Federal
Republic
of
Germany.
His
presidency
remains
a
notable
chapter
in
French
political
history,
marked
by
his
pragmatic
approach
and
commitment
to
modernizing
the
nation.