Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, dubbed "VGE", was born February 2, 1926 in Koblenz, Germany. He was the 20th President of the French Republic, in power from 27 May 1974 to May 21, 1981.

While he was the pole favourite in the presidential election of 1981, he was beaten by François Mitterrand, the Socialist Party candidate, who received 51.76 % of votes. VGE had beaten Mitterrand in the election of 1974.

After his political life, he wrote several essays and novels, and has been a member of the French Academy since 2003.