born Jan. 11, 1907, Paris, France
died Oct. 18, 1982, Paris
French politician and premier (1954–55).
Born into a Jewish family, he became a lawyer and served in the Chamber of Deputies (1932–40). In World War II he was imprisoned by the Charles de Gaulle 's provisional government. As a legislator in postwar France (1946–58), he criticized government policies on economics and the wars in Indochina and North Africa. In 1954 he became premier; he ended France's involvement in Indochina and also helped effect autonomy for Tunisia. His proposed economic reforms led to his defeat in 1955. He sought without success to make the {{link=Radical-Socialist Party">Radical-Socialist Party the centre of the noncommunist left and opposed de Gaulle's presidency.