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Mauroy's only real moment of friction with Mitterrand came in 1979. Impatient with the Socialists' slowness in breaking the alliance with the Communists, Mauroy, by then the mayor of Lille, briefly promoted Michel Rocard as the party's next presidential nominee. But when Mitterrand announced he would run again, Mauroy loyally swung back into line.
The aloof and enigmatic Mitterrand has long admired Mauroy's practical political skills and seemingly infinite patience. Indeed, Mitterrand has confided to friends on several occasions that "some day Mauroy will end up President of the Republic." Maybe so, but the man who once declared that "socialists cannot in 100 days change the ideology and culture of 100 years of capitalism" has plenty of work to do for his comrade-in-arms right now.