Former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard dies

Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister of France, passed away on 2 July 2016 in Paris, France. He was 85.

Rocard served as Prime Minister under President Francois Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991.

About Michel Rocard

• Michel Rocard was born on 23 August 1930 in Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine.

• He entered politics as a student leader whilst studying at Sciences-Po. He became chair of the French Socialist Students.

• From 1967 to 1974, he led the dissident Unified Socialist Party (PSU).

• He ran in the 1969 presidential election but obtained only 3.6% of the vote.

• In 1974, he joined Francois Mitterrand and the renewed Socialist Party (PS).

• In 1977, he was elected as the Mayor of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

• Under Mitterrand's first presidency, Rocard served as the Minister of Territorial Development and Minister of Planning from 1981 to 1983 and Minister of Agriculture from 1983 to 1985.

• After Mitterrand's re-election, Rocard was chosen as Prime Minister.

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