(Photo: AP)

Rocard, a fervent advocate of the European Union, served as Prime Minister under President Francois Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991.

Paris

: Former French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard died on Saturday, the office of President Francois Hollande said in a statement.

\"A great figure of the Republic and the left has just disappeared,\" the statement said.

Rocard, a fervent advocate of the European Union, served as Prime Minister under President Francois Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991. One of his achievements was the creation of the RMI, a welfare program. He was 85.