Former French president Giscard d'Estaing dies after catching Covid-19

Former leader, instrumental in forming unified Europe, was 94

FILE PHOTO: Former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing attends the World Nuclear Exhibition 2014  (WNE), the trade fair event for the global nuclear energy sector, in Le Bourget, near Paris October 14, 2014. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
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Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who served as president of France from 1974 to 1981, died on Wednesday at his family home. Elysee Palace confirmed the news, Reuters reported.

The foundation in his name later confirmed in a tweet that Giscard d'Estaing died after being infected with coronavirus.

It announced that a funeral would occur with the "strictest family privacy", according "to his wishes".

Giscard d'Estaing was being treated in the cardiology unit at a hospital in Tours, western France, said Europe 1 radio, which was first to report the death.

As a leader he modernised France socially, economically and financially after the Second World War.

Giscard d'Estaing was behind approving divorce by mutual consent, lowering the voting age, investing in nuclear power and introducing the national high-speed rail service.

But he lost his re-election attempt in 1981.

Giscard d'Estaing was instrumental in forming a unified Europe.

The euro currency and the European Monetary System came about from his working relationship with former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

Giscard d'Estaing was also chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe after his presidency.