French Leftists deeply divided

Press, 10 April 1979, Page 8

French Leftists deeply divided

NZPA-Reuter Metz (France) The French Socialist Party has emerged from a threeday congress deeply divided and with a rift between the veteran party chief, Francois Mitterrand, aged 61, and a challenger, Michel Rocard, aged 48. Mr Mitterrand, who fought an unsuccessful Presidential campaign against Valery Giscard d’Estaing five years ago, retained control of the party, but be will be forced to lead it without an over-all majority on its governing body.

Mr Rocard said that his supporters. representing about 21 per cent of party membership, would now go into opposition within the Socialist movement. But he emphasised from the rostrum that it would be a loyal, not a destructive or wrangling opposition. The split came when last-minute back-room negotiations on a joint policy statement broke down early on Sunday. In the final delegates’ vote, Mr Mitterrand’s policy motion won 46.97 per cent support, and Mr Rocard’s 21.25 per cent. Mr Rocard’s ally, Pierre Mauroy, took 16.8 per cent,

and a Leftist faction polled 14.98 per cent.

Mr Mitterrand hinted in his closing speech ihat talks were under wav t;> bring the Lefti-ts, known as the Ceres Group, into his governing majority, but thi. policy differences still remained to be resolved over the European Common Market. Mr Rocard said in his speech that he would not act as a pretender to Mr Mitterrand’s throne. He said that if Mr Mitterrand decided to run for the Presidency again in 1981, he would back him.

Nevertheless, the party remains split over several areas of policy. Mr Rocard, while supporting a strategy of electoral unity with the Communist Party, urged a more liberal, less bureaucratic economic policy and a greater role for trade unions within a Left-wing alliance.

The Socialists have emerged from tecent local elections as the largest political force in France, commanding nearly 27 per cent of the popular vote. The pro-Sociaiist daily, “Le Matin,”- commented- “ The party’s credibility, its ability to govern France onq day . . . depend on overcoming these commotions and ructions.”