France, March 23 -- Lionel Jospin, who led the French government from 1997 to 2002, died on Sunday, according to his family.

He had undergone what he described as a "serious operation" earlier this year and had returned home to rest in January, though no further details were made public.

President Emmanuel Macron praised Jospin on social media platform X for his "rigour, his courage and his ideal of progress".

As prime minister, Jospin oversaw a period of economic growth and falling unemployment, while pursuing a programme that blended social reform with economic pragmatism.

His government reduced the working week from 39 to 35 hours, expanded access to healthcare and introduced civil unions granting equal rights to unmarried couples,...