ABSTRACT
Academically accomplished and urbane, Fabius joined the Parti Socialiste (PS) in 1974. Viewed as the ambitious ‘spiritual son’ of Mitterrand and his possible successor, he has been a député since 1978 and was Minister for the Budget in 1981-3 and Minister for Industry and Research in 1983-4. As prime minister in 1984-6, he symbolized Mitterrand’s policy U-turn towards market liberalism, although he projected a technocratic image. He was president of the National Assembly from 1988 to 1992. He gained the leadership of the PS in 1992, but was ousted in 1993 following the party’s electoral débâcle. His support for Jospin in the 1995 presidential election was somewhat lukewarm. He remains a leading Socialist.
