Michel Rocard - Rocard's Ministry, 12 May 1988–15 May 1991

French statesman and prime minister (1988–91), born near Paris. He trained at the Ecole National d'Administration, and began his career in 1958 as an inspector of finances. In 1967 he became leader of the radical Unified Socialist Party, standing as its presidential candidate in 1969 and being elected to the National Assembly in the same year. He joined the Socialist Party in 1973, emerging as leader of its moderate Social Democratic wing, and unsuccessfully challenged François Mitterrand for the Party's presidential nomination in 1981. After serving as minister of planning and regional development (1981–3) and agriculture (1983–5), he resigned, but in 1988 was appointed prime minister by Mitterrand. His continuing moderateness brought an end to his premiership, and he was replaced by the left-winger, Edith Cresson. In 1994 he was elected to the European Parliament and became chairman of its Committee on Development and Co-operation.

Michel Rocard
Prime Minister of France
In office 10 May 1988 – 15 May 1991
Preceded by	Jacques Chirac
Succeeded by	Édith Cresson
Born	23 August 1930 Courbevoie
Political party	Socialist

Michel Rocard (born 23 August 1930) is a French Socialist politician, former Prime Minister, and currently a member of the European Parliament.

Under Mitterrand's first presidency, he was 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, he was Prime Minister (1988-1991) and led the Matignon Accords regarding the status of New Caledonia, which ended the troubles in this overseas territory. Michel Rocard's poor relations with François Mitterrand, notably during his mandate as Prime Minister, became notorious.

After the 1993 electoral disaster, he became head of Socialist Party, but had to resign one year later, after his own defeat: the Socialist Party had its worst electoral result in the 1994 European Parliament election. His supporters within the Socialist Party became allies of candidate Lionel Jospin, who was Prime Minister in 1995-2002, and then Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is his favourite potential candidate for the 2007 presidential elections.

Rocard's Ministry, 12 May 1988–15 May 1991

Michel Rocard - Prime Minister Roland Dumas - Minister of Foreign Affairs Edith Cresson - Minister of European Affairs Jean-Pierre Chevènement - Minister of Defense Pierre Joxe - Minister of the Interior Pierre Bérégovoy - Minister of Economy, Finance, Budget, and Privatization Roger Fauroux - Minister of Industry Michel Delebarre - Minister of Employment and Social Affairs Pierre Arpaillange - Minister of Justice Lionel Jospin - Minister of National Education, Sport, Research, and Technology Jack Lang - Minister of Culture and Communication Henri Nallet - Minister of Agriculture and Forests Maurice Faure - Minister of Housing and Equipment Louis Mermaz - Minister of Transport Jean Poperen - Minister of Relations with Parliament Jacques Pelletier - Minister of Cooperation and Development Paul Quilès - Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Space Michel Durafour - Minister of Civil Service Roger Fauroux - Minister of External Commerce Louis Le Pensec - Minister of Sea

Changes

22-23 June 1988 - Michel Delebarre succeeds Mermaz as Minister of Transport and Le Pensec as Minister of Sea. The office of Minister of Social Affairs is abolished, but Claude Evin enters the ministry as Minister of Solidarity, Health, and Social Protection. Jean-Pierre Soisson succeeds Delebarre as Minister of Employment, becoming also Minister of Labour and Vocational Training. Louis Le Pensec becomes Minister of Overseas Departments and Territories. Jean-Marie-Rausch succeeds Fauroux as Minister of External Commerce. Hubert Curien succeeds Jospin as Minister of Research and Technology. Jospin remains Minister of National Education and Sport. Michel Durafour becomes Minister of Administrative Reforms as well as Minister of Civil Service. 28 June 1988 - Jack Lang becomes Minister of Great Works and Bicentenary in addition to being Minister of Culture and Communication. 22 February 1989 - Michel Delebarre succeeds Faure as Minister of Housing and Equipment, remaining also Minister of Transport. 2 October 1990 - The office of Minister of European Affairs is abolished. Henri Nallet succeeds Arpaillange as Minister of Justice. Louis Mermaz succeeds Nallet as Minister of Agriculture and Forests. The office of Minister of Bicentenary is abolished. Jack Lang remains minister of Culture, Communication and Great Works. 21 December 1990 - Michel Delebarre becomes Minister of City. Louis Besson succeeds Delebarre as Minister of Transport, Housing, Sea, and Equipment. 29 January 1991 - Pierre Joxe succeeds Chevènement as Minister of Defense. Philippe Marchand succeeds Joxe as Minister of the Interior.