The Metz Congress was the seventh national congress of the French Socialist Party (''Parti socialiste'' or PS) which took place on 6, 7 and 8 April 1979. The debate was influenced by the failure to update the ''Common Programme'' with the

French Communist Party The French Communist Party (, , PCF) is a Communism, communist list of political parties in France, party in France. The PCF is a member of the Party of the European Left, and its Member of the European Parliament, MEPs sit with The Left in the ...

(''Parti communiste français'' or PCF), and the unexpected defeat of the "Union of Left" at the 1978 legislative election. Eight years after his establishing control of the party,

François Mitterrand François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was a French politician and statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, the longest holder of that position in the history of France. As a former First ...

faced internal opposition.

Michel Rocard Michel Rocard (; 23 August 1930 – 2 July 2016) was a French politician and a member of the Socialist Party (France), Socialist Party (PS). He served as Prime Minister of France, Prime Minister under François Mitterrand from 1988 to 199 ...

, who joined the PS in 1974, led the right-wing of the party. He criticized the ''Common Programme'', and decried it as being "archaic" and "unrealistic". He advocated an alignment with contemporary European social-democracy and an acceptance of the market economy. For Mitterrand, these propositions threatened to split the "Union of Left". Rocard was supported by Pierre Mauroy. He had been number 2 of the party since 1971. He represented the survivors of the

French Section of the Workers' International The French Section of the Workers' International (, SFIO) was a major socialist political party in France which was founded in 1905 and succeeded in 1969 by the present Socialist Party. The SFIO was founded in 1905 as the French representativ ...

(SFIO) who denounced the hegemony of Mitterrand's supporters in the party.

Jean-Pierre Chevènement Jean-Pierre Chevènement (; born 9 March 1939) ...

and his left-wing CERES faction advocated a return to closer relations with the PCF. Mitterrand's faction obtained 47% of the vote, Rocard's won 21.3%, Mauroy's scored 16% and Chevènement secured 14%. Mitterrand was re-elected first secretary thanks to the rallying of Chevènement. Mauroy lost the function of number 2 to

Lionel Jospin Lionel Robert Jospin (; born 12 July 1937) is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002. Jospin was First Secretary of the French Socialist Party, First Secretary of the Socialist Party from 1995 to 1997 and th ...

. In spite of his popularity in the polls, Rocard promised he would not be a candidate at the next presidential election if Mitterrand announced his will to be the PS candidate.

Results

Runoff

was re-elected as First Secretary.PS Congresses since 1971
''France-politique''

References

Congresses of the Socialist Party (France) Political history of France 1979 in France 1979 in politics 1979 conferences April 1979 in Europe 1970s political conferences {{France-party-stub