(born 1926), French statesman, president 1974–81. As secretary of state for finance 1959–62 and finance minister 1962–6 under President Charles de Gaulle, he was responsible for the policies that formed the basis for France's economic growth. He was a member of the European Parliament (1989–93) and was leader of the centre-right Union pour la démocratie française since 1988–96.