Metz Congress
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The Metz Congress is the seventh national congress of the French Socialist Party (Parti socialiste or PS) which took place on 6, 7 and 8 April 1979. The debate was influenced by the failure to update the Common Programme with the French Communist Party (Parti communiste français or PCF), and the unexpected defeat of the "Union of Left" at the 1978 legislative election.
Eight years after his conquest of the party, François Mitterrand faced an internal opposition. Michel Rocard, who joined the PS in 1974, led the right-wing of the party. He criticized the Common Programme, accused of being "archaic" and "unrealistic". He advocated an alignment on the European social-democracy and an acceptance of the market economy. For Mitterrand, these propositions threated to split the "Union of Left".
Rocard was supported by Pierre Mauroy. He had been number 2 of the party since 1971. He represented the survivors of the SFIO who denounced the hegemony of Mitterrand's friends on the party.
Jean-Pierre Chevènement and the left-wing of the party claimed the necessity to get in touch again with the PCF.
Mitterrand obtained 47% of the vote, Rocard 21.3%, Mauroy 16% and Chevènement 14%. Mitterrand was re-elected prime secretary thanks to the rallying of Chevènement. Mauroy lost the function of number 2 to Lionel Jospin. In spite of his popularity in the polls, Rocard promised he would not be a candidate at the next presidential election if Mitterrand announced his will to be the PS candidate.
