Pierre Mauroy

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Pierre Mauroy (Template:IPA; 5 July 1928 – 7 June 2013) was a French politician who was Prime Minister of France from 1981 to 1984 under President François Mitterrand. Mauroy also served as Mayor of Lille from 1973 to 2001 and President of the Socialist International from 1992 to 1999. At the time of his death, Mauroy was the emeritus mayor of the city of Lille.

Biography

Background

Mauroy was born in Cartignies. A teacher, he led the Socialist Youth Movement and the Technical Teaching Union in the 1950s. He became a leading figure in the Socialist federation of Nord département, which was among the third biggest of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) party and climbed quickly in the party. In 1966, he became the second most powerful person of the party behind the secretary general, Guy Mollet. Nevertheless, when Mollet resigned as leader in 1969, Alain Savary was chosen to succeed him.

Political career

After the electoral disasters of 1968 and 1969, he was persuaded of the necessity to renew the party. In 1971, during the Epinay Congress, he supported François Mitterrand's election to the party leadership and became the second most powerful person in the Socialist Party (PS). Two years later, he was elected as a deputy and Mayor of Lille.

Increasingly, Mauroy criticized the replacement of former SFIO members from important positions by allies of Mitterrand. In this, he formed an alliance with Michel Rocard, the main opponent of Mitterrand, during the 1979 Metz Congress. However, Mitterrand chose him as spokesperson during the 1981 presidential campaign; after Mitterrand's election, he appointed Mauroy as Prime Minister.

Prime minister

Mauroy's government was a radical reforming one, implementing a wide range of social reforms including the reduction of the legal workweek from 40 to 39 hours,<ref name="Popular Front">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="aei.pitt.edu">Template:Cite web</ref> the lowering of the retirement age to 60, and higher social welfare benefits.<ref name="since 1870">Template:Cite book</ref>

Mauroy in 1981

Various measures aimed at extending eligibility for early retirement were introduced<ref>Recasting Welfare Capitalism Economic Adjustment in Contemporary France and Germany By Mark Vail, 2010, P.60</ref> while Educational Priority Zones were set up to provide (as noted by one study) “additional resources to schools in depressed areas.”<ref>Shaping Race Policy The United States in Comparative Perspective By Robert C. Lieberman, 2011, P.112</ref>

The Auroux Laws of 1982 introduced new rights in the workplace<ref>The French Welfare State Surviving Social and Ideological Change By John Ambler, 1991, P.247</ref> while a 1982 transportation law stipulated (as noted by one study) “that the government needs to provide reasonably priced public transport for all citizens.”<ref>Urban Transport Strategy to Combat Climate Change in the People's Republic of China By Asian Development Bank,2012</ref> Another law passed in 1982 allowed for the spouses of shopkeepers and artisans (as noted by one study) “to acquire social or work-related entitlements as co-workers, employees or associates.”<ref>OECD Economic Surveys France By Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 1981, P.73 – via Google Books</ref> In 1983 a new minimum contributory pension was introduced.<ref>Women and Social Security Progress Towards Equality of Treatment By Anne-Marie Brocas, Anne-Marie Cailloux, Virginie Oget, 1990, P.91</ref> Also in 1983, a project was introduced for funding economic and social measures in certain housing estates.<ref>Social Exclusion and Inner City Europe Regulating Urban Regeneration By S. Mangen, 2004, P.11</ref> An Act of January 1984 extended rights to parental leave,<ref>Labour Law In France Third Edition, By Michel Despax†, Jean-Pierre Laborde, Jacques Rojot†, 2023</ref> and a law of February 1984 encouraged vocational training.<ref>Schools and Work Technical and Vocational Education in France Since the Third Republic By Charles R. Day, 2001, P.98</ref>

During its first year in office, the Mauroy Government pursued an expansionary economic strategy known as “reflation in one country” which included measures such as the creation of several new posts in the public sector, disability benefits and family allowances. The government’s strategy, however, led to rises in both inflation and the budget deficit,<ref>Culture in France and Germany (RLE: German Politics) A Contemporary Perspective, 2014 (Originally published 1991), Editors: Eva Kolinsky and John Gaffney, P.76</ref> and from 1982 onwards austerity measures were carried out such as cuts to unemployment benefits, housing allowances, early retirement guarantees, and a number of medical reimbursements, together with the introduction of daily hospital bed charges.<ref>Global capital, political institutions, and policy change in developed welfare states By Duane Swank, 2002, P.191</ref> Despite this, many increases made to social protection stayed intact.<ref>Global capital, political institutions, and policy change in developed welfare states By Duane Swank, 2002, P.192</ref>

Failing to restrict the financing of private schools via the Savary Law,<ref name="google22">Template:Cite book</ref> he resigned in 1984.

After Matignon

Pierre Mauroy in 2007.

In 1988 he became First Secretary of the PS against the will of Mitterrand, who supported Laurent Fabius. Until the end of his term, in 1992, he tried to appease the relations between the factions which composed the PS, notably during the very strained 1990 Rennes Congress. He allied with the rocardien group and Lionel Jospin's supporters, who came from the mitterrandist group.

President of the Socialist International from 1992 to 1999, Senator since 1992, he left the Lille mayoralty in 2001. Considered a moral authorityTemplate:Citation needed of the French Left, he supported the candidacy of Ségolène Royal during the 2007 primary election.

Mauroy died from complications of lung cancer on 7 June 2013 at the age of 84.<ref name="nytimes">Template:Cite news</ref>

Political career

Governmental functions

Prime minister : 1981–1984.<ref name="AssemblyDB">Template:Cite web</ref>

Electoral mandates

European Parliament

Member of European Parliament : 1979–1980 (Resignation).

National Assembly of France

Member of the National Assembly of France for Nord (French department) (2nd, then 1st constituency from 1988 to 1992) : 1973–1981 (Became Prime minister in 1981) / 1984–1992 (Elected senator in 1992). Elected in 1973, reelected in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1988.<ref name="AssemblyDB"/>

Senate of France

Senator of Nord (French department) : 1992–2011. Elected in 1992, reelected in 2001.<ref name="AssemblyDB"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Regional Council

President of the Regional Council of Nord-Pas-de-Calais : 1974–1981.

Regional councillor of Nord-Pas-de-Calais : 1974–1981 / 1986–1988 (Resignation).

General Council

Vice-president of the General Council of Nord (French department) : 1967–1973.

General councillor of Nord (French department) : 1967–1973.

Municipal Council

Mayor of Lille : 1973–2001. Reelected in 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995.

Deputy-mayor of Lille : 1971–1973.

Municipal councillor of Lille : 1971–2008. Reelected in 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001.

Urban community Council

President of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole : 1989–2008. Reelected in 1995, 2001.

Vice-president of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole : 1971–1989. Reelected in 1977, 1983.

Member of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole : 1971–2008. Reelected in 1977, 1983, 1989, 1995, 2001.

Political function

First Secretary (leader) of the Socialist Party (France) : 1988–1992. Elected in 1988.

Mauroy's First Government, 21 May 1981 – 23 June 1981

Mauroy's Second Government, 23 June 1981 – 22 March 1983

Changes

Mauroy's Third Government, 22 March 1983 – 17 July 1984

Changes

  • 4 October 1983 – Paul Quilès succeeds Quiliot as Minister of Town Planning and Housing.
  • 18 December 1983 – Roland Dumas enters the Cabinet as Minister of European Affairs.

References

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