Jorg Marchais Leader of the French communists from 1972 to 1994. Date of Birth: 07.06.1920 Country: France

Biography of Georges Marchais

Georges Rene Louis Marchais was born on June 17, 1922 in La Ogée, Calvados. He served as the General Secretary of the French Communist Party (FCP) from 1972 to 1994.

Marchais started his career as a mechanic in a factory and later became the secretary of the metalworkers' union in Issy-les-Moulineaux. He joined the Communist Party in 1947 and quickly rose through the ranks. In 1956, he became a member of the Central Committee and in 1972, he was appointed as the General Secretary of the FCP.

During his leadership, Marchais established a left-wing bloc with Francois Mitterrand, the leader of the Socialist Party, and Robert Fabre, the leader of the Radicals. In 1973, he was elected as a deputy in the National Assembly. In 1974, he supported Mitterrand's candidacy for the presidency as the unified candidate of the left.

However, in 1977, Marchais broke away from the left-wing bloc and ran as a candidate against Mitterrand in the 1981 presidential elections. He did not make it to the second round of the elections, receiving only 15.3% of the votes.

In 1994, Marchais handed over the leadership of the FCP to Robert Hue. In December 1996, he resigned from his position in the National Bureau of the FCP, along with a group of "old guard" members.

Marchais faced criticism for his loyalty to the Soviet Union and his failure to modernize the FCP. He was often referred to as a "last Stalinist" and a "little Stalin" due to his authoritarian leadership style. Despite his persistence in defending communist ideals, the FCP lost more than half of its traditional electorate under his leadership.

Outside of France, Marchais received little attention and his death in 1997 was not widely reported. However, in France, his passing was considered a significant event. President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin both expressed their condolences, highlighting Marchais' impact on French politics.

Marchais was married twice and had four children, three daughters from his first marriage. He was known for his love of Cohiba cigars, which he received as gifts from Fidel Castro.

Overall, Marchais' political biography demonstrates how he became a paradoxical figure, serving as the "undertaker" of French communism despite his persistence in defending communist ideals. He transformed the FCP from being the senior partner of the Socialists to their vassal. However, his failure to adapt to changing times and modernize the party ultimately led to its decline.