Just In: Ex-French President Jacques Chirac Dies At 86

French former president, Jacques Chirac who defiantly opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, has died at the prime age of 86.

Chirac was the President of France from 1995 to 2007 and also the Prime Minister of France twice, first from 1974 to 1976 and later from 1986 to 1988.

He also served as Mayor of Paris for eighteen good years. Although his time as president was marked by inaction and political stagnation, and despite having left France just as divided and struggling with mounting debt, inequalities, and unemployment as he had found it.

Naija News learnt Chirac’s death was  announced in the National Assembly in Paris where a minute’s silence was held to honour the past national hero and leader.

"Je vous demande de bien vouloir observer une minute de silence en hommage à la mémoire de Jacques Chirac"@RichardFerrand et les députés interrompent quelques minutes leurs travaux sur la bioéthique en hommage à l'ancien président de la République, mort ce matin#DirectAN pic.twitter.com/UrYOGXIT64

— LCP (@LCP) September 26, 2019

His son-in-law Frederic Salat-Baroux said that the burial ceremony will be announced soonest.