Georges Marchais

Born on June 7, 1920 Georges Rene Louis Marchais was the main secretariat of the French Communist party from 1972 and lasting for 22 years. He was also the presidential candidate from the Communist party in the elections of 1981.
Marchais was born a French Roman Catholic. In his early adult years he studied mechanics and pre-WWII he worked for the Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation. When France fell to Hitler he worked was ordered to work in the Messerschmitt aircraft plant.
Marchais became secretary of the metal workers' trade union and moved up the ladder to have a leadership role in the Seine Metallurgical Workers' Union Federation. He became part of the young guard of the General Secretary, Maurice Thorez. Marchais continued to rise in the party and in 1972 he was officially named General Secretary. He continued to policies of his predecessor and sided with Francois Mitterrand of the 1974 presidential elections.
Marchais supported reforms in the Party and participated in Eurocommunism with the Italian and Spanish Communist Parties. The end of the 1970s saw Marchais re-aligning with the Soviet Union. He continued to be a staunch support of the Soviets after realignment. He supported the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and criticized the right-wing policies of the socialist party.
In 1994 Marchais gave up the General Secretary office, but continued as a member of the Politburo. He became president of the committee for the defense of human liberties and rights in France and throughout the world. He continued to criticize the Frances moves away from socialism. Marchais died on November 16, 1997.