Lionel Robert Jospin

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Jospin, Lionel (b. 12 July 1937). Prime Minister of France, 1997–2002 Born in Meudon, he graduated from the elite universities Institut d'Études Politiques and the École Nationale d'Administration (ENA). He joined the Socialist Party in 1971, just after taking up a professorship in economics at Paris University IX. Jospin became the party's expert on foreign policy, and in 1981, when Mitterrand became President, he became party leader. From 1988 to 1992 he was minister of education, but in 1993 he lost his seat in the National Assembly and returned to university teaching. One year later he returned to the political limelight as party leader, when after Mitterrand's presidency the Socialist Party was deeply unpopular. The strait-laced, relatively uncharismatic politician proved a welcome antidote to the flamboyant Mitterrand, and surprised political pundits by coming a close second in the presidential elections of 1995. He led his party to a triumphant election victory in 1997, and subsequently presided over a period of high economic growth and low inflation. His government also introduced a number of social welfare reforms and relaxed the country's relatively stringent immigration policies. In a sweeping tax reform in 2001, he provided marked relief especially for lower incomes and an overall reduction in the tax burden. From 2000, however, his government's performance was less assured, which manifested itself in a series of ministerial resignations owing to a number of scandals. Ironically, his distant rectitude became an electoral liability against the populist Chirac, who managed to define the election campaign on issues like law and order. Jospin's centrism failed to unite the left behind him, so that in a political earthquake he missed the second round of the presidential elections, coming third behind Chirac and Le Pen.

Lionel Robert Jospin , 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 Mitterrand 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 Chirac ; 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 Union 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 Pen 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.

Jospin, Lionel (1937– ) French statesman, prime minister (1997–2002). Jospin joined the French Socialist Party (PS) in 1971. In 1981 he became first secretary of the PS. In 1995 he succeeded François Mitterrand as leader of the PS, but lost the ensuing presidential election to Jacques Chirac. In the 1997 prime ministerial elections, Jospin won a surprise victory against the incumbent RPR prime minister, Alain Juppé. Jospin retired after losing a second presidential election in 2002.