This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/08/world/europe/pierre-mauroy-former-french-socialist-premier-dies-at-84.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pierre Mauroy, Socialist Who Led Changes in France, Dies at 84 Pierre Mauroy, Socialist Who Led Changes in France, Dies at 84
(6 days later)
PARIS — Pierre Mauroy, who as France’s first Socialist prime minister after World War II pushed through some of the Socialist Party’s most important overhauls, died on Friday in a hospital near Paris. He was 84. PARIS — Pierre Mauroy, who as France’s first Socialist prime minister since the beginning of the Fifth Republic in 1958 pushed through some of the Socialist Party’s most important overhauls, died on Friday in a hospital near Paris. He was 84.
His death was announced by the foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, who succeeded Mr. Mauroy as prime minister in 1984. The cause was complications of lung cancer, his family said.His death was announced by the foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, who succeeded Mr. Mauroy as prime minister in 1984. The cause was complications of lung cancer, his family said.
A longtime ally of François Mitterrand’s, Mr. Mauroy became prime minister when Mr. Mitterand became president in 1981, and he promoted a pro-European vision of socialism. He resigned in 1984.A longtime ally of François Mitterrand’s, Mr. Mauroy became prime minister when Mr. Mitterand became president in 1981, and he promoted a pro-European vision of socialism. He resigned in 1984.
Mr. Mauroy’s government carried out changes that transformed the face of French society, including the abolition of the death penalty; the lowering of the retirement age to 60; a reduction in the legal workweek to 39 hours from 40; a fifth week of paid vacation; and an increase in welfare benefits. In 2000 the workweek was shortened still further, to 35 hours.Mr. Mauroy’s government carried out changes that transformed the face of French society, including the abolition of the death penalty; the lowering of the retirement age to 60; a reduction in the legal workweek to 39 hours from 40; a fifth week of paid vacation; and an increase in welfare benefits. In 2000 the workweek was shortened still further, to 35 hours.
His policies helped reduce poverty but inevitably produced higher inflation and a growing budget deficit, forcing Mr. Mitterrand to shift toward a more prudent budget, which Mr. Mauroy also oversaw. He was widely praised for persuading Mr. Mitterrand to keep the French franc in the European monetary system.His policies helped reduce poverty but inevitably produced higher inflation and a growing budget deficit, forcing Mr. Mitterrand to shift toward a more prudent budget, which Mr. Mauroy also oversaw. He was widely praised for persuading Mr. Mitterrand to keep the French franc in the European monetary system.
Mr. Mauroy was also mayor of Lille, near the Belgian border, from 1973 to 2001 and served in both houses of the French legislature, as well as in the European Parliament. He was known for his lyrical speeches in the Senate.Mr. Mauroy was also mayor of Lille, near the Belgian border, from 1973 to 2001 and served in both houses of the French legislature, as well as in the European Parliament. He was known for his lyrical speeches in the Senate.
The news of Mr. Mauroy’s death prompted a flow of tributes from across the political spectrum. Speaking from Tokyo, where he was on an official visit, President François Hollande, the first Socialist president since Mr. Mitterrand, praised Mr. Mauroy as a “humanist” who had “served his country without concealing its fundamental values.”The news of Mr. Mauroy’s death prompted a flow of tributes from across the political spectrum. Speaking from Tokyo, where he was on an official visit, President François Hollande, the first Socialist president since Mr. Mitterrand, praised Mr. Mauroy as a “humanist” who had “served his country without concealing its fundamental values.”
Mr. Fabius, the foreign secretary, said that with Mr. Mauroy’s death, “it is a whole epic and a pillar of democratic socialism that goes away.”Mr. Fabius, the foreign secretary, said that with Mr. Mauroy’s death, “it is a whole epic and a pillar of democratic socialism that goes away.”
Born on July 5, 1928, in Cartignies, in the industrial north, Mr. Mauroy came from Roman Catholic working-class stock. His grandfather was a lumberjack, and his father was a schoolteacher. He joined the Socialists at 17, starting his political career with the Jeunesses Socialistes (Young Socialists), and in 1966 became general secretary of the French section of the Workers’ International, which later became the Socialist Party. He served as Mr. Mitterrand’s spokesman before Mr. Mitterand was elected president.Born on July 5, 1928, in Cartignies, in the industrial north, Mr. Mauroy came from Roman Catholic working-class stock. His grandfather was a lumberjack, and his father was a schoolteacher. He joined the Socialists at 17, starting his political career with the Jeunesses Socialistes (Young Socialists), and in 1966 became general secretary of the French section of the Workers’ International, which later became the Socialist Party. He served as Mr. Mitterrand’s spokesman before Mr. Mitterand was elected president.
Mr. Mauroy led the Socialist Party from 1988 to 1992. In 1990 he founded the Fondation Jean-Jaurès, a research institution promoting Socialist policies.Mr. Mauroy led the Socialist Party from 1988 to 1992. In 1990 he founded the Fondation Jean-Jaurès, a research institution promoting Socialist policies.
He left the Senate in 2011 and resigned from his various other positions because of health problems. He is survived by his wife, Gilberte, a former teacher, and their son, Fabien.He left the Senate in 2011 and resigned from his various other positions because of health problems. He is survived by his wife, Gilberte, a former teacher, and their son, Fabien.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: June 13, 2013

An obituary on Saturday about the French politician Pierre Mauroy erroneously attributed a distinction to him. He was France’s first Socialist prime minister since the beginning of the Fifth Republic in 1958 — not since the end of World War II.