Socialist Left (France)
Encyclopedia
Socialist Left was an organized caucus
in the French Socialist Party
. The GS made up part of the left wing
of the party.
The GS was founded in 1988 to oppose the inclusion center-right politicians in the cabinet of president François Mitterrand
. The founders of the faction included Jean-Luc Mélenchon
and Julien Dray
, both of whom were former members of the Communist League
.
As part of the internal turmoil that followed the Socialist Party's first-round defeat in the 2002 presidential election
, the GS began to disintegrate. Mélenchon left the group and formed the Nouveau Monde ("New World") caucus. Dray formed a new current that sought to reconstitute the party, Pour un Nouveau Parti Socialiste, but he later abandoned the idea and became an adviser to 2007 presidential candidate Ségolène Royal
.
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
in the French Socialist Party
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
. The GS made up part of the left wing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
of the party.
The GS was founded in 1988 to oppose the inclusion center-right politicians in the cabinet of president François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
. The founders of the faction included Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a French politician who served in the government of France as Minister of Vocational Education from 2000 to 2002. He was also a member of the Senate of France, representing the Essonne department...
and Julien Dray
Julien Dray
Julien Dray was born on 5 March 1955 in Oran, French Algeria. He is currently a member of the National Assembly of France. He represents the Essonne department, and is a member of the Socialiste, radical, citoyen et divers gauche.-Works:...
, both of whom were former members of the Communist League
Revolutionary Communist League (France)
See Revolutionary Communist League for the other Ligue communiste révolutionnaire.The Revolutionary Communist League was a French democratic revolutionary socialist political party. It was the French section of the Fourth International...
.
As part of the internal turmoil that followed the Socialist Party's first-round defeat in the 2002 presidential election
French presidential election, 2002
The 2002 French presidential election consisted of a first round election on 21 April 2002, and a runoff election between the top two candidates on 5 May 2002. This presidential contest attracted a greater than usual amount of international attention because of Le Pen's unexpected appearance in...
, the GS began to disintegrate. Mélenchon left the group and formed the Nouveau Monde ("New World") caucus. Dray formed a new current that sought to reconstitute the party, Pour un Nouveau Parti Socialiste, but he later abandoned the idea and became an adviser to 2007 presidential candidate Ségolène Royal
Ségolène Royal
Marie-Ségolène Royal , known as Ségolène Royal, is a French politician. She is the president of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council, a former member of the National Assembly, a former government minister, and a prominent member of the French Socialist Party...
.