The Unyielding Édouard Balladur: A Career of Bitter Triumphs and Lost Opportunities Édouard Balladur's passing at 97 is a reminder that some figures leave more of an impression than others, even in France where politics often takes center stage.
This enigmatic statesman spent his career straddling the line between power and obscurity. Balladur's rise to prominence was no accident.
As a seasoned administrator, he played a key role in negotiating the resolution of the tumultuous May 1968 student and worker revolt.