French socialist politician, first secretary of the Socialist Party (PS) 198188 and 199597, then prime minister 19972002, 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.
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