Ten years in the past, on July 2, 2016, Michel Rocard gave up the ghost. The demise of the messenger of the “second left” closed a bankruptcy within the historical past of the French socialist left. What’s left of Rockardism within the present political panorama?
The opposition between Michel Rocard and François Mitterrand was once now not only a duel of bold folks. The tale of Michel Rocard is a combat for a definite thought of the left. In spite of the fluctuation within the stability of energy vis-à-vis the Mitterrandists and the ideological shift transferring from self-governance to social democracy, Michel Rocard and the Rocardians by no means renounced their distinct identification, that of the “other left”.
2nd left
The start of this concept dates again to the PS congress arranged in Nantes in June 1977. Michel Rocard theorized the lifestyles of 2 lefts, hanging himself in the second one reformist left on the subject of the primary left which he regarded as “archaic”. This primary left could be centralized, impressed by means of Jacobinism and Marxism-Leninism, favoring the function of the state, the second one, successor to Jaures and Proudhon, could be extra tied to social forces, extra decentralized and would prefer the social transformation of the ones involved. A change that might now not most effective be the paintings of the state, but additionally of social actors, particularly industry unions. This explains, amongst different issues, the closeness between Michel Rocard and Edmond Maire, chief of the CFDT between 1971 and 1988. We will be able to additionally point out the highbrow affect of this reformist industry union sphere, above all, the previous guide of Edmond Maire, Pierre Rosanvalon, who may well be described as “the intellectual of the Ro intellectual”.
Ten years after the demise of Michel Rocard, in a context wherein the socialist left, when requested about its courting with the intense left, is dealing with nice existential demanding situations, the query of his legacy and the motion of his political legacy and, as a result, where of Rocardism in French political existence, in a single avatar or some other, is being puzzled.
The truth is unquestionable. Michel Rocard has carved a spot for himself within the Pantheon of the left and within the reminiscence of the French, as evidenced by means of a ballot from October 2025. When requested “To solve the problems that arise in France today, which of these Prime Ministers of the Fifth Republic, dead or alive, do you want to see the return of responsibility in Matignon?” », 25% of the French cited Michel Rocard, in the back of Lionel Jospin (30%) and forward of Alain Juppe (21%).
In a afflicted political generation, with a fragmented Nationwide Meeting, wavering governments and obliterated landmarks, the identify of Michel Rocard due to this fact turns out to resonate with a time of steadiness and statesmanship.
In line with this survey carried out in 2025, the French would love left-wing high ministers to go back to Matignon. The research concludes: “Behind the memory of great people, there is a demand for stability and clarity.” Verian/The Hemicicle The ultimate trustworthy, guardians of Rockcardian reminiscence
Michel Rocard’s political journey was once a collective journey. Rocardi, as a political group, spans a number of generations, from the start of the Sixties to the top of the Nineties. Emblematic Rocardian lieutenants have progressively withdrawn from political existence from the 2000s onwards, akin to Jean-Pierre Sueur who left the Senate in 2023. As well as, a number of unswerving Rocardians have died, akin to just lately ex-Secretary of State Tony Dreyfus or Louis Besson, former minister and mayor of Chambé. Then again, we will most effective spotlight the impressive go back of Catherine Trautman, a determine of rock track within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties. She was once re-elected mayor of Strasbourg on March 22, 2026 in alliance with a centre-right candidate, defeating the outgoing environmentalist mayor allied with the LFI… 25 years after she misplaced the mayoral seat! The Rocardians who’re nonetheless energetic as of late most commonly come from the ultimate era, those that campaigned for Michel Rocard as a dedication of the early life, akin to Olivier Faure, the primary secretary of the PS since 2018.
Despite the fact that the Rocardians are not an arranged power in a position to influencing political existence, there may be nonetheless a Rocard temple: the MichelRocard.org affiliation. Chaired by means of Jean-François Merle, a former shut affiliate of Michel Rocard, its board of administrators contains a variety of names with out whom the Rocardian journey wouldn’t have been imaginable (Robert Chapuis, Gerard Lindepper, Pierre Zemor, Alain Bergugno, and so forth.). Such a lot of paths illustrating a large number of paths, with Rocardians final within the PS (Michel Desteau, and so forth.) and Rocardians evolving in different networks, akin to Eric Lombard changing into Minister of Economic system within the Bayrut executive. His digitized collections are a hint of Michel Rocard’s highbrow, political and philosophical legacy.
From war of words to reference
Once they joined the PS in 1974, Michel Rocard and his fans were given a dismal recognition as false socialists. Their interior fighters confirmed some creativity in denouncing this alleged duplicity, this “right-wing deviationism”, to make use of the expression of Jean-Pierre Schevenman, a determine at the left wing of the PS. Thus, Michel Rocard was once given the corrosive nickname “Rocard d’Estaing” by means of Socialist MP Jean Popperin, in a option to painting the second one left’s mouthpiece as a failed mirrored image of President Giscard d’Estaing. “Rockardism is the enemy,” even proclaimed the Chevenmentist deputy Pierre Guidoni.
Michel Rocard was once, due to this fact, in line with his detractors, a synthesis of the whole thing that betrayed and weakened the left: reformism, the meant affect of Christian values… The speculation of the closeness of Michel Rocard and a definite appropriate was once fueled by means of what was once referred to as “openness”, this is, the appointment of center-right ministers after the re-election on the head of the François Mi9 executive. to reach this, this tradition was once endured within the governments led by means of his two socialist successors, Edith Cresson, then Pierre Beregovoi. In truth, the hole was once now not the private design of Michel Rocard, however of François Mitterrand, who staked his re-election in 1988 at the thought of overcoming the limits of the left. That is the entire that means of his slogan “United France” and his letter to all French folks.
After the failure of Michel Rocard within the 1994 Eu elections and his disappearance from the nationwide political scene, Rocardism was once diluted in different interior divisions throughout the PS. For Robert Chapuis, trustworthy spouse and State Secretary within the Ministry of Nationwide Schooling between 1988 and 1991:
“After 1995, that was no longer possible. The world was different. There were many personalities, but no possible reference. Rocardism, by definition, died with Michel Rocard.”
On the other hand, some Rocardians consider that Michel Rocard gained a posthumous victory. That is the case of Jean-Francois Merle, a former shut affiliate of Michel Rocard, who believes that “the second left has won part of the cultural battle”. Jean-Paul Houchon, Michel Rocard’s former leader of team of workers, underlines the anomaly between her “virtual disappearance” and the truth that the Rocardian line has grow to be “the common heritage of the left, socialist and wider”. It’s true that the values of social democracy, which Michel Rocard early claimed from 1991, have knowledgeable an expanding a part of the PS all over the ultimate many years.
Reference reforms
Additionally, the tips and movements of Michel Rocard resulted in the adoption of reforms which can be nonetheless in power as of late, or found in some other shape:
The Generalized Social Contribution (CSG), created in December 1990 by means of Michel Rocard’s executive to give a contribution to the financing of social safety. Since 2018, it has additionally been used to finance unemployment insurance coverage.
The Submit, Telegraph and Phone (PTT) reform, followed by means of parliament in December 1990, break up this former management into two firms: L. a. Poste and France Telecom, renamed Orange in 2013.
Minimal source of revenue from integration, established by means of legislation from December 1, 1988 on the initiative of the federal government of Michel Rocard. It’s deliberate to ensure everybody a minimal threshold of assets and to obtain a minimal allowance for integration in alternate for the duty to take part in integration movements. It was once changed in 2009 by means of Energetic Unity Source of revenue (RSA).
Consecration of a statesman
The New Caledonia factor is most probably one in all Michel Rocard’s maximum celebrated successes. As Top Minister, he controlled to calm the violent tensions that divided the island between separatists and loyalists. The Matignon Agreements, signed on June 26, 1988, supplemented on August 20 by means of the Oudino Agreements, laid the rules for a commendable governance in keeping with session and discussion. The tribute to Michel Rocard on the time of his demise is especially shiny on Caillou. Philip Gomes, who has held a lot of positions within the native government, problems a press liberate paying tribute to the “Caledonian Renaissance man” and “Rocard’s method”. Even as of late, the phrases “Rocard’s style” or “Rocard’s method” are used, even claimed, particularly by means of political figures who needed to arrange the recollections of tensions in New Caledonia.
For Rockardians, this system, targeted at the modernization of the state and the seriousness of public motion, isn’t meant to be implemented solely to the case of New Caledonia, however should be an everlasting place, a legacy that are supposed to be used to habits politics in a different way.
INA archives keep in mind the Matignon agreements ten years later; agreements concluded because of a “dialogue mission” despatched by means of Rokar’s executive. Emmanuel Macron and Edouard Philippe are on the lookout for a succession
The problem of succession in subtle politics, as discussed, Michel Rocard by no means appointed a successor. This didn’t save you nationwide political figures from claiming, with roughly depth, for Michel Rocard, or a minimum of being impressed by means of him.
On the time of Michel Rocard’s demise, Emmanuel Macron, then a candidate for the presidential elections, was once a kind of who paid tribute to the messenger of the opposite left. It will pay tribute to a “forerunner” whose motion should proceed. In 2017, Jean-Paul Houchon printed a piece in tribute to Michel Rocard. The foreword is in Emmanuel Macron’s handwriting. He claims that he feels the “need” to be trustworthy to Michel Rocard and “what survives him, that is, his way of approaching the issues of our time, this intellectual and moral correctness, this concern he had to reconcile politics with reality.” The confession of the Rocardian religion contested by means of Manuel Valls, at the moment additionally grew to become against the best elections and incorporated within the Rocardian networks since 1980, and which all the time claims to be attached and with regards to Michel Rocard.
Lets additionally point out Edouard Philippe. Nowadays, a candidate for the presidential elections and a consultant of a definite appropriate, he nonetheless takes on Rocard’s early life dedication and fascination with left-wing figures like Leon Bloom, Pierre Mendes of France, Michel Rocard, which in line with him is connected by means of “the demand for a level of public discourse”. In spite of this construction, Edouard Philippe stays very hooked up to the determine of Michel Rocard and attempted to apply his footsteps all over his consult with to Matignon, particularly when he was once accumulating the New Caledonia record to arrange for the November 2018 session.
So, along with variations in background and private construction, Michel Rocard’s affect transcends fresh divisions. Even as of late, in a hard context the place benchmarks are now and again blurred, Michel Rocard stays a cast fashion that may encourage fashionable politics.
Mathieu Cabanis is the creator of Rocardian Galaxy. The roots, odyssey and stays of a political journey, Presses universitaire de Bordeaux, Would possibly 2026.
