Jospin, Lionel Robert
Jospin, Lionel Robert
(zhôspăN`), 1937–, French politician, premier of France (1997–2002). He studied at the elite École Nationale d'Administration (1961–65) and worked (1965–70) in the foreign ministry. He joined the Socialist party (1971), taught college economics (1970–88), and was elected to the National Assembly in 1981. That year marked the election of François MitterrandMitterrand, François Maurice, 1916–96, French political leader, president of France, 1981–95. Initially a supporter of Pétain's Vichy government during World War II, he joined the Resistance in 1943.
..... Click the link for more information. as president; he appointed Jospin Socialist party leader (1981–88). After Mitterrand's reelection (1988), Jospin was named minister of education. In 1995 he ran unsuccessfully for president, narrowly losing to Jacques ChiracChirac, Jacques René
, 1932–, French political leader, president of France (1995–2007), b. Paris. He attended the National School of Administration, joined the civil service, and began his political career in 1961 working for Premier Georges Pompidou.
..... Click the link for more information. ; the same year he again became Socialist party leader.
In the 1997 parliamentary elections, Jospin and the Socialists promised to create new jobs, soften the harsh economic reforms of the conservative government, and slow down the fulfillment of European UnionEuropean Union
(EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community (EC), an economic and political confederation of European nations, and other organizations (with the same member nations)
..... Click the link for more information. obligations; the left swept into the National Assembly. With the cooperation of the Greens, Communists, and others on the left, Jospin became premier. He won passage of a cut in the work week to 35 hours, aided in settling two serious strikes, and worked toward French adoption of the euro without imposing further economic austerities. He also continued his conservative predecessor's policy of privatizing state-owned companies; he was criticized in 1999 by his coalition partners for being too pro-business. Although a supporter of the European Union, Jospin opposed moving toward a more centralized, federal EU. Expected to challenge Chirac for the presidency in the final round of the 2002 elections, Jospin placed third behind Jean-Marie Le PenLe Pen, Jean-Marie
, 1928–, French politician. He graduated from law school, was elected (1956) a parliamentary deputy, and criticized President de Gaulle's Algerian policy. From 1972 to 2011 he led the extreme right-wing National Front (FN).
..... Click the link for more information. in the first round and subsequently resigned as premier and as party leader. He considered running again in the 2007 presidential election, but withdrew in 2006 when it became apparent he would not win the Socialist party nomination. In 2014 he was appointed to the French Constitutional Council.