Reuters AlertNet Lite - Former French PM Rocard has brain surgery in India

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Former French PM Rocard has brain surgery in India

30 Jun 2007 16:28:35 GMT
Source: Reuters

KOLKATA, India, June 30 (Reuters) - Former French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard underwent emergency brain surgery after falling ill in India, hospital officials said on Saturday.

"He was feeling very sick and could not breathe or talk, so he was rushed to our hospital and we conducted an emergency brain scan," said G.K. Prufty, a neurosurgeon at Kolkata CMRI hospital.

"We conducted an emergency surgery to remove a blod clot. The surgery was successful but he's still not out of danger."

Authorities said a French medical team was on its way to Kolkata to oversee his condition.

Rocard arrived in India this week at the invitation of the Communist govermment of West Bengal.

Rocard, 76, entered politics in 1953 as a leftist student leader and switched to the Socialist Party in the 1970s, advocating a modern, pragmatic form of social democracy.

He sought the Socialist nomination for the 1981 presidential election, only to drop out when Mitterrand ran and won. Rocard tried again in 1988 but had to back down. Mitterrand was re-elected.

He was subsequently appointed prime minister, gaining popularity with a low-key conciliatory style. Three years later, Mitterrand sacked him.

In 1993, Rocard grabbed the party leadership in a backroom coup after an election defeat but a poor showing at the European elections of 1994 led to his resignation and the end to a career in the front rank.

Rocard was elected to the Senate in 1995 and played a prominent role in Lionel Jospin's renovation of the party. He is now seen as an elder statesman of centre-left politics.

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Last updated:Sat Jun 30 16:29:34 2007