The former French president Jacques Chirac, who had one of the longest political careers in Europe, has died aged 86. Photo: France 24

"President Jacques Chirac died this morning, September 26, 2019, surrounded by his family, peacefully," his son-in-law told AFP.

Chirac served two terms as president and twice as PM, and took France into the single European currency.

The French National Assembly observed a minute's silence in his memory.

A towering figure in French politics for five decades, Chirac will be remembered for his opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, his pragmatic statesmanship and his advocacy of the European Union.

French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to speak on television at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) to pay tribute to his late predecessor.

What is his legacy?

Chirac won domestic and international plaudits for his fierce opposition to French involvement in the Iraq War, presciently warning it would prove a "nightmare". "War is always a last resort. It is always proof of failure," Chirac said, in comments days before the war started.

In 1995, Chirac became the first French leader to recognise the country's role in the deportation of Jews to death camps during World War Two.

After winning the 1995 presidential election on a platform of healing the "social rift", his promised economic reforms were considered piecemeal.

Among his major domestic political reforms was a reduction of the presidential term of office from seven to five years, and the abolition of compulsory military service.

Described by some as a political chameleon, by others as the "bulldozer", Chirac was seen as a leader who could bridge the gap between left and right.

As president, he pressed for a more federal Europe within the European Union.

In the 2000s, Chirac championed the European project and an EU constitution, which was later rejected in a poll by the majority of French voters.

Who is Jacques Chirac?

Born in 1932, Chirac was the son of a bank manager. A graduate of Harvard University, he began his career as a high-level civil servant before entering politics.

He served as head of state from 1995 to 2007 - making him France's second longest serving post-war president after his immediate Socialist predecessor Francois Mitterrand.

Chirac's health steadily deteriorated after he stepped down until his death on Thursday.

In 2005, he suffered a stroke, and in 2014 his wife Bernadette said he would no longer speak in public, noting he had memory trouble.

Chirac also served as French prime minister twice, from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988.

What were the corruption scandals?

Chirac was beset by a series of corruption scandals dating back to his tenure as the mayor of Paris between 1977 and 1995. He and his entourage were accused of using city funds to pay for his political party, the RPR.

A ruling by the country's constitutional council in 1999 gave the president blanket immunity from prosecution while in office. But in 2011 he was convicted of diverting public funds while serving as mayor, a ruling Chirac rejected.

He was found guilty and given a suspended sentence of two years, but remained popular despite his conviction.