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| Ex-French PM Raymond Barre dies | Ex-French PM Raymond Barre dies |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former French Prime Minister Raymond Barre has died, aged 83. | Former French Prime Minister Raymond Barre has died, aged 83. |
| The centrist politician served in the post for five years from 1976-81, under the presidency of Valery Giscard d'Estaing. | The centrist politician served in the post for five years from 1976-81, under the presidency of Valery Giscard d'Estaing. |
| Earlier in his career he was vice-president of the European Commission and was also mayor of Lyon from 1995-2001. | Earlier in his career he was vice-president of the European Commission and was also mayor of Lyon from 1995-2001. |
| He died in a Parisian hospital. He had been receiving treatment for a heart condition since April. | He died in a Parisian hospital. He had been receiving treatment for a heart condition since April. |
| Barre was little-known until he was appointed by President Giscard d'Estaing to succeed Jacques Chirac in 1976. | |
| Dubbed "France's best economist" by the president, Barre cut thousands of jobs in the loss-making steel and coal industries. | |
| He remained in power until the Socialist victory of 1981 brought Francois Mitterrand to the presidency. |