Michèle Barzach 1943 – 2026

Biography

# Michèle Barzach

Michèle Barzach was a trailblazing French politician who brought her expertise as a gynaecologist and psychoanalyst to the highest levels of government. Born in Casablanca in 1943, she rose to prominence as Minister of Health and Family under Jacques Chirac’s administration from 1986 to 1988, where she championed crucial healthcare initiatives during a pivotal era in French politics.

Beyond her ministerial tenure, Barzach remained a dedicated humanitarian, serving as chairwoman of UNICEF France from 2012 to 2015. Her career reflected a rare triple expertise—medicine, psychology, and public service—that shaped her approach to protecting vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.

Barzach passed away on October 26, 2026, in Paris, at age 83.