France’s Debre, ‘Father Of Constitution’, Dies

Former Prime Minister Michel Debre, known as father of France’s current Constitution, died Friday at his home in the Loire Valley. He was 87.

A staunch supporter and friend of former President Charles de Gaulle, Debre served as his first prime minister from 1959-62, and later held the Cabinet portfolios of economy, foreign affairs and defense.

Educated in law, Debre was instrumental in drafting the Constitution of the Fifth Republic.

In 1981 he ran against Jacques Chirac for the conservative nomination for president, but garnered only 1.6 percent of the primary vote.