Jospin, Lionel Robert (1937– )

French socialist politician, first secretary of the Socialist Party (PS) 1981–88 and 1995–97, then prime minister 1997–2002, under President Jacques Chirac, heading a ‘pluralist left’ coalition with communist, green, and left-wing radical parties. A moderate within the PS, he was a close ally of François Mitterrand. He retired from politics in May 2002, after being defeated in the first round of the presidential elections, finishing in third place behind the far-right extremist Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Born near Paris, Jospin trained at the Ecole Nationale d'Administration and became a career civil servant in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. He joined the PS in 1971 and soon became part of Mitterrand's leadership circle. A deputy for a Paris suburb (1981–93) and respected for his integrity and modesty, he succeeded Mitterrand as PS first secretary in 1981, realigning the party to a more pragmatic social-democratic stance. He was minister of education in the Rocard government (1988–91), and, after his career declined in the early 1990s, became the PS presidential candidate in 1995, after Jacques Delors declined to stand. He polled a respectable 47% against Chirac on the second ballot. As premier 1997–2002, he initially enjoyed considerable popularity despite protests over continuing high levels of unemployment.