2002 in France

← 2001 2000 1999 2002 in France → 2003 2004 2005
Decades:	1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2002 Timeline of French history

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 lesuire 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.

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.

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).
• 23 January – Maurice Limat, science fiction author (born 1914).
• 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).
• 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).
• 12 June – Jean de Beaumont, sport shooter (born 1904).
• 29 June – François Périer, actor (born 1919).
• 30 June – Claude Berge, mathematician (born 1926).
• 30 June – 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 (b. c1945).
• 31 October – 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

• Bernard Destremau, tennis player (born 1917).
• Jacques Poirier, painter (born 1928).
• Pauline Trigère, fashion designer (born 1909).