1920- . Leader of the French Communist Party
(PCF) from 1972. Under his leadership, the
party committed itself to a `transition to
socialism' by democratic means and entered
into a union of the left with the Socialist
Party (PS). This was severed 1977, and the
PCF returned to a more orthodox pro-Moscow
line, since when its share of the vote has
decreased. Marchais joined the PCF 1947 and
worked his way up through the party
organization to become its general secretary.
He was a presidential candidate 1981, and
sanctioned the PCF's participation in the
Mitterrand government 1981-84. He remained
leader of the PCF despite a fall in its
national vote from 21% 1973 to 10% 1986.