The family of former French prime minister and prominent economist Raymond Barre says he has died at the age of 83.
Relatives said Barre died Saturday at the Val-de-Grace hospital in Paris, where he had been hospitalized since April with heart problems.
Mr. Barre served in the Industry Ministry from 1959 through 1962 during President Charles de Gaule's administration.
He was prime minister of France from 1976 through 1981, and also held the posts of vice president of the European Union, French economics minister and mayor of Lyon.
He retired from politics in 2002.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
