He combined the profession of sociologist with political activity which was initially militant but is now mainly associative.

He was elected to the city council of Mâcon (Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France) in 1977 and became assistant mayor in charge of economic affairs.

He was active in promoting local economic development and the income guarantee called the revenu minimum d'insertion or RMI).

As a representative of the French parliament to the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, he bore responsibility for the additional protocol to the European Convention of Human Rights defining and protecting the rights of national minorities.

He is quoted as saying "Along with decentralisation, it is the thing of which I am proudest during my twelve years in parliament".