2002 in France
# 2002 in France

Events from the year 2002 in France.

## Incumbents

* President: Jacques Chirac
* Prime Minister: Lionel Jospin (until 7 May), Jean-Pierre Raffarin (starting 7 May)

## Events

* 1 January – the Euro replaces the French franc as France's currency.
* 6 March – France agrees to return the remains of Saartjie Baartman to South Africa.
* 21 April – first round of the presidential election: Jacques Chirac and Jean-Marie le Pen poll the most votes. Two weeks of demonstrations against the National Front follow.
* 5 May – second round of the presidential election. Jacques Chirac returns for a second term as President of the French Republic.
* 6 May – nomination of Jean-Pierre Raffarin for the post of Prime Minister.
* 9 June – first round of the legislative elections
* 16 June – second round of legislative elections.
* 14 July – During Bastille Day celebrations, Jacques Chirac escapes an assassination attempt unscathed.
* November – Citroën launches a revised model of its popular Berlingo leisure activity vehicle.
* November – Renault launches the second generation of Mégane hatchback range of hatchbacks, estates, convertibles and saloons.
* December – The Renault Megane II is voted European Car of the Year.
* Date unknown:
   * Danyel Waro, fyer bâtard documentary film is released.
   * Trident Media Guard company is founded.

## Sport

* 6 July – Tour de France begins.
* 21 July – French Grand Prix won by Michael Schumacher of Germany.
* 28 July – Tour de France ends, won by Lance Armstrong of the United States.

## Births

* 10 November – Eduardo Camavinga, French footballer

## Deaths

### January to March

* 11 January – Henri Verneuil, playwright and filmmaker (born 1920).
* 13 January – Pierre Joubert, illustrator (born 1910).
* 23 January
   * Pierre Bourdieu, sociologist (born 1930).
   * Maurice Limat, science fiction author (born 1914).
* 13 February – Pauline Trigère, fashion designer (born 1908).
* 14 February – Geneviève de Gaulle-Anthonioz, member of the French Resistance and president of ATD Quart Monde (born 1920).
* 21 February – Georges Vedel, public law professor (born 1910).
* 8 March – Robert Dun, writer and SS officer (born 1920).
* 12 March – Louis-Marie Billé, cardinal (born 1938).
* 22 March – Marcel Hansenne, middle-distance runner (born 1917).

### April to June

* 19 April – Jean-Pierre Destrumelle, soccer player and manager (born 1941).
* 22 May – Niki de Saint Phalle, sculptor, painter and filmmaker (born 1930).
* 25 May – Michel Jobert, politician (born 1921).
* 29 May – François Ovide, guitarist (born 1952).
* 6 June – Bernard Destremau, tennis player (born 1917).
* 12 June – Jean de Beaumont, sport shooter (born 1904).
* 29 June – François Périer, actor (born 1919).
* 30 June
   * Claude Berge, mathematician (born 1926).
   * Roger Lévêque, cyclist (born 1920).

### July to September

* 2 July – Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur, organist and composer (born 1908).
* 3 July – Michel Henry, philosopher and novelist (born 1922).
* 31 July – Claude Rifat, biologist, psychonaut, political activist, writer and researcher.
* 2 August – Jean-Pierre Yvaral, artist (born 1934).
* 6 August – Jean Sauvagnargues, politician and Minister (born 1915).
* 8 September – Henri Rol-Tanguy, communist and leader in the French Resistance (born 1908).

### October to December

* 12 October – Audrey Mestre, free-diver (born 1974).
* 25 October – René Thom, mathematician (born 1923).
* 26 October – Jacques Massu, General (born 1908).
* 31 October
   * Lionel Poilâne, boulanger and entrepreneur (born c1945).
   * Raymond Savignac, graphic artist (born 1907).
* 10 November – Michel Boisrond, film director and writer (born 1921).
* 23 November – Maritie Carpentier, television producer (born 1922).
* 29 November – Daniel Gélin, actor, director and screenwriter (born 1921).

### Full date unknown

* Jacques Poirier, painter (born 1928).
