- Born on 31 July 1947 in Saint Sylvain de Bellegarde (F)

- Nationality: French

- Official in the Ministry of Culture (1974‒1979)

- Official in the Directorate-General for Cultural, Scientific and Technical Relations of the French Foreign Ministry (1979‒1981)

- Diplomatic Adviser to French President François Mitterrand (1981‒1988)

- Spokesman for the Presidency of the Republic (1988‒1991)

- Secretary-General for the Presidency of the Republic (1991‒1995)

- Minister for Foreign Affairs (1997‒2002)

- Chairman of the François Mitterrand Institute (since 2003)