Former French president Jacques Chirac died at the age of 86 on Thursday, according to reports.
Chirac had reportedly been hospitalised several times in the last ten years with a lung infection.
He was president for 12 years after winning the election against Lionel Jospin on 7 May 1995 and again in 2002 against far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen.
The death was confirmed by the former president’s son-in-law Frédéric Salat-Baroux.
Chirac was prime minister from 1974 – 1976, and again from 1986 to 1988.
He was known for his strong stand against the American invasion of Iraq when approval rating for his anti-war stance in France soared to 90 per cent.
On 15 December 2011, the Paris court declared Chirac guilty of diverting public funds and abusing public confidence and gave him a two-year suspended prison sentence.