Édouard Balladur, a prominent figure in France’s Fifth Republic, has died at the age of 97. He held several key positions throughout his career, serving as Secretary-General of the Élysée Palace under Georges Pompidou and negotiating the Grenelle agreements during the 1968 student protests. Balladur later became Prime Minister under François Mitterrand in 1993. Despite a distinguished career, he lost the 1995 presidential election to Jacques Chirac. His death marks the end of an era in French politics, as he was a central player for several decades. He will be remembered for his significant contributions to the political landscape of post-war France.