Lionel Jospin

France state institutions Social democracy France France 1937–2026 ○ Natural causes

Socialist prime minister of the third cohabitation who came from a Trotskyist organisation

Born in Meudon in 1937 to a Protestant family, he graduated from the ENA and worked in the foreign ministry. In 1965 he joined the Trotskyist Lambert group, which became the Internationalist Communist Organisation, and was active in it under the name "Michel"; in 1971 he joined the Socialist Party at the organisation's request. Trusted by Mitterrand, he was first secretary of the Socialist Party from 1981 to 1988 and minister of education from 1988 to 1992. After losing the 1995 presidential election to Chirac, he became prime minister following the left's 1997 election victory and introduced the 35-hour week and the civil solidarity pact. Eliminated in the first round of the 2002 presidential election behind Jean-Marie Le Pen, he withdrew from politics.

Activities and affiliations

Career Timeline