What is balladur?

Édouard Balladur is a French politician who served as the Prime Minister of France from 1993 to 1995. He was born on May 2, 1929, in Istanbul, Turkey, and obtained French citizenship through his mother, who was French. Balladur started his political career as a civil servant under President Georges Pompidou in the 1960s. He then served as a member of the National Assembly and as Minister of Economy and Finance under President François Mitterrand.

As the Prime Minister of France, Balladur implemented economic reforms that aimed to reduce the budget deficit and stimulate economic growth. However, his policies were criticized for their negative impact on social welfare programs and public services. Balladur also faced criticism for his handling of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, during which France was accused of supporting the Hutu government responsible for the mass killings of Tutsis.

In 1995, Balladur ran for the presidency of France but lost to Jacques Chirac in the first round of voting. After his defeat, Balladur retired from politics but remained involved in public affairs as an expert on global governance and international relations.