Former French PM Pierre Mauroy dies aged 84June 7, 2013 - 15:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former French prime minister Pierre Mauroy, who pushed through a string of worker benefits as the head of modern France's first Socialist government, has died aged 84, the government said on Friday, June 7, according to Reuters. Mauroy had been admitted to a hospital in the Paris region last weekend, a year after undergoing surgery for a cancerous tumor in his lung. As prime minister from 1981 to 1984 under president Francois Mitterrand, Mauroy oversaw reforms to trim the work week to 39 hours from 40, lower the retirement age to 60, give workers a fifth week of paid vacation and raise welfare benefits. The work week was subsequently lowered to 35 hours in 2000. "We have lost someone who was a pillar of social democracy," Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in Tokyo, where he was accompanying President Francois Hollande on an official visit. Elected just over a year ago, Hollande is France's first Socialist president since Mitterrand and is attempting to strike a balance between passing reforms to revitalize the stalled economy and keeping happy left-wingers concerned at austerity. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |