The Rocard government was the Government of France headed by Prime Minister Michel Rocard. It was originally formed on 10 May 1988 by the presidential decree of President François Mitterrand. It was composed of members from the Socialist Party. The second Rocard government was dissolved on 15 May 1991 when Édith Cresson was chosen by Mitterrand to form the next cabinet.
Cabinet
Michel Rocard – Prime Minister
Roland Dumas – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Édith Cresson – Minister of European Affairs
Jean-Pierre Chevènement – Minister of Defense
Pierre Joxe – Minister of the Interior
Pierre Bérégovoy – Minister of Economy, Finance, Budget, and Privatization
Roger Fauroux – Minister of Industry
Michel Delebarre – Minister of Employment and Social Affairs
Pierre Arpaillange – Minister of Justice
Lionel Jospin – Minister of National Education, Sport, Research, and Technology
Jack Lang – Minister of Culture and Communication
Henri Nallet – Minister of Agriculture and Forests
Maurice Faure – Minister of Housing and Equipment
Louis Mermaz – Minister of Transport
Jean Poperen – Minister of Relations with Parliament
Jacques Pelletier – Minister of Cooperation and Development
Paul Quilès – Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Space
Michel Durafour – Minister of Civil Service
Roger Fauroux – Minister of External Commerce
Louis Le Pensec – Minister of Sea
Brice Lalonde – Minister of the Environment
Changes
22–23 June 1988 – Michel Delebarre succeeds Mermaz as Minister of Transport and Le Pensec as Minister of Sea. The office of Minister of Social Affairs is abolished, but Claude Evin enters the ministry as Minister of Solidarity, Health, and Social Protection. Jean-Pierre Soisson succeeds Delebarre as Minister of Employment, becoming also Minister of Labour and Vocational Training. Louis Le Pensec becomes Minister of Overseas Departments and Territories. Jean-Marie-Rausch succeeds Fauroux as Minister of External Commerce. Hubert Curien succeeds Jospin as Minister of Research and Technology. Jospin remains Minister of National Education and Sport. Michel Durafour becomes Minister of Administrative Reforms as well as Minister of Civil Service. 28 June 1988 – Jack Lang becomes Minister of Great Works and Bicentenary in addition to being Minister of Culture and Communication. 22 February 1989 – Michel Delebarre succeeds Faure as Minister of Housing and Equipment, remaining also Minister of Transport. 2 October 1990 – The office of Minister of European Affairs is abolished. Henri Nallet succeeds Arpaillange as Minister of Justice. Louis Mermaz succeeds Nallet as Minister of Agriculture and Forests. The office of Minister of Bicentenary is abolished. Jack Lang remains minister of Culture, Communication and Great Works. 21 December 1990 – Michel Delebarre becomes Minister of City. Louis Besson succeeds Delebarre as Minister of Transport, Housing, Sea, and Equipment. 29 January 1991 – Pierre Joxe succeeds Chevènement as Minister of Defense. Philippe Marchand succeeds Joxe as Minister of the Interior.
Policies
Economy
The wealth tax (abolished under the previous government of Jacques Chirac) was restored and the CSG (general social contribution) was introduced in 1990 to provide a more egalitarian way of financing social security. Additional day-care services and related services for working mothers and families were introduced, and a new allowance for skilled baby-sitters (L'aide a la famille pour l'emploi d'une AFEAMA) was created in 1990 to promote the employment of skilled baby-minders, recognised by public authorities, through a reduction of insurance contributions and through tax incentives. A year earlier, in 1989, childminding expenses were made tax-deductible. Public housing for the poor was improved while the aged and handicapped received new benefits, and a new law was passed that allowed for the suspension of all civic rights (including voting or running for office) for anyone convicted of serious racist or anti-Semitic offences. The postal and telephone system was considerably reformed, together with the judicial professions. Key reforms were also adopted in the financing of political parties and campaigns, while other reforms were carried out in the penal code and in regulations that governed the terms of psychiatric internment.