2002 in France

Incumbents

• President: Jacques Chirac
• Prime Minister: Lionel Jospin, Jean-Pierre Raffarin

  Events

• 1 January – The Euro Currency officially became the legal tender for France, along with the other European Union Eurozone member area countries, replacing the French franc by being introduced physically with the official launch of the currency coins and banknotes.
• 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. This was a major political event, both nationally and internationally, as it was the first time someone Le Pen with such far-right views had qualified for the second round of a French presidential election. 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.

  Arts and literature

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

• 22 July – Jules Bouyer, French diver
• 10 November – Eduardo Camavinga, French footballer

  Deaths

January to March

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

  April to June

• 19 April – Jean-Pierre Destrumelle, soccer player and manager.
• 22 May – Niki de Saint Phalle, sculptor, painter and filmmaker.
• 25 May – Michel Jobert, politician.
• 29 May – François Ovide, guitarist.
• 6 June – Bernard Destremau, tennis player.
• 12 June – Jean de Beaumont, sport shooter.
• 29 June – François Périer, actor.
• 30 June
• *Claude Berge, mathematician.
• *Roger Lévêque, cyclist.

  July to September

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

  October to December

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

  Full date unknown

• Jacques Poirier, painter.