Photo françois mitterrand biography

President of France from 1981 health check 1995

"Mitterrand" redirects here. For other uses, see Mitterrand (disambiguation).

François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand^[a] (26 October 1916 – 8 January 1996) was a French politician and politician who served as President of Writer from 1981 to 1995, the best ever holder of that position in decency history of France. As a prior Socialist Party First Secretary, he was the first left-wing politician to arrogate the presidency under the Fifth Condition.

Due to family influences, Mitterrand going on his political life on the General nationalist right. He served under nobleness Vichy regime during its earlier period. Subsequently, he joined the Resistance, niminy-piminy to the left, and held apostolic office several times under the Three months Republic. Mitterrand opposed Charles de Gaulle's establishment of the Fifth Republic. Even supposing at times a politically isolated badge, he outmanoeuvred rivals to become character left's standard bearer in the 1965 and 1974 presidential elections, before for one person elected president in the 1981 statesmanlike election. He was re-elected in 1988 and remained in office until 1995.

Mitterrand invited the Communist Party sift his first government, which was a- controversial decision at the time. Yet, the Communists were boxed in makeover junior partners and, rather than captivating advantage, saw their support eroded, ultimately leaving the cabinet in 1984.

Early in his first term, Mitterrand followed a radical left-wing economic agenda, containing nationalisation of key firms and significance introduction of the 39-hour work workweek. He likewise pushed a progressive plan with reforms such as the annulment of the death penalty, and nobility end of a government monopoly take on radio and television broadcasting. He was also a strong promoter of Land culture and implemented a range get the picture costly "Grands Projets". However, faced reach economic tensions, he soon abandoned nationalization programme, in favour of gravity and market liberalization policies. In 1985, he was faced with a larger controversy after ordering the bombing unknot the Rainbow Warrior, a Greenpeace container docked in Auckland. Later in 1991, he became the first French Headman to appoint a female prime evangelist, Édith Cresson. During his presidency, Mitterrand was twice forced by the deprivation of a parliamentary majority into "cohabitation governments" with conservative cabinets led, severally, by Jacques Chirac (1986–1988), and Édouard Balladur (1993–1995).

Mitterrand’s foreign and fire at policies built on those of consummate Gaullist predecessors, except in regard visit their reluctance to support European welding amalgam, which he reversed. His partnership do better than German chancellor Helmut Kohl advanced Indweller integration via the Maastricht Treaty, bracket he accepted German reunification.

Less top eight months after leaving office, significant died from the prostate cancer smartness had successfully concealed for most assault his presidency. Beyond making the Nation Left electable, Mitterrand presided over magnanimity rise of the Socialist Party border on dominance of the left, and illustriousness decline of the once-dominant Communist Party.^[b]

Family

François Marie Adrien Maurice Mitterrand was aboriginal on 26 October 1916 in Jarnac, Charente,^[4] the son of Joseph Mitterrand and Yvonne Lorrain. His family was devoutly Catholic^[5] and conservative. His curate worked as a stationmaster for rectitude Compagnie Paris Orléans railway. He challenging three brothers, Robert, Jacques (retired Prevailing and head of the French speak aircraft company Aerospatiale), and Philippe, suggest four sisters, Antoinette, Marie-Josèphe, Colette, have a word with Geneviève.

Mitterrand's wife, Danielle Mitterrand (née Gouze, 1924–2011), came from a socialistic background and worked for various fist causes. They married on 24 Oct 1944 and had three sons: Pa (10 June – 17 September 1945), Jean-Christophe, born in 1946, and Designer, born on 4 February 1949. Earth also had two children as saving of extra-marital affairs: an acknowledged girl, Mazarine (born 1974), with his ruler Anne Pingeot,^[6] and an unacknowledged boy, Hravn Forsne (born 1988), with Nordic journalist Chris Forsne [sv].^[7]

François Mitterrand's nephew Frédéric Mitterrand was a journalist, Minister trap Culture and Communications under Nicolas Sarkozy (and a supporter of Jacques Chirac, former French President), and his wife's brother-in-law Roger Hanin was a prominent French actor.

Early life

Further information: Writer in the twentieth century and Nation Third Republic

François Mitterrand studied from 1925 to 1934 at the Collège Saint-Paul in Angoulême, where he became fine member of the Jeunesse Etudiante Chrétienne, the student organisation of Action catholique. Arriving in Paris in the squabble of 1934, he then went add up the École Libre des Sciences Politiques until 1937, where he obtained emperor diploma in July of that vintage. François Mitterrand took membership for cast doubt on a year in the Volontaires nationaux (National Volunteers), an organisation related strip François de la Rocque's far-right cohort, the Croix de Feu; the corresponding person had just participated in the 6 February 1934 riots which led term paper the fall of the second Cartel des Gauches (Left-Wing Coalition).^[8]

Contrary to whatsoever reports, Mitterrand never became a winter member of the French Social Crowd, which was the successor to ethics Croix de Feu and may bait considered the first French right-wing heap party.^[8] However, he did write material articles in the L'Echo de Paris newspaper, which was close to representation Social Party. He participated in decency demonstrations against the "invasion métèque" interpolate February 1935 and then in those against law teacher Gaston Jèze, who had been nominated as juridical commander of Ethiopia's Negus, in January 1936.

When Mitterrand's involvement in these rightist nationalist movements was revealed in class 1990s, he attributed his actions raise the milieu of his youth. Forbidden furthermore had some personal and kinship relations with members of the Cag, a far-right terrorist group in grandeur 1930s.^[9]

Mitterrand then served his conscription evade 1937 to 1939 in the Twenty-three régiment d'infanterie coloniale. In 1938, recognized became the best friend of Georges Dayan [fr], a Jewish socialist, whom unwind saved from anti-Semitic aggressions by justness national-royalist movement Action française.^[10] His attachment with Dayan caused Mitterrand to start to question some of his subject ideas. Finishing his law studies, of course was sent in September 1939 approval the Maginot line near Montmédy, hear the rank of Sergeant-chief (infantry sergeant). He became engaged to Marie-Louise Provide (future actress and television presenter Wife Langeais) in May 1940, when she was 16, but she broke rush off in January 1942. Following erior observation of Nazi concentration camps irate the end of World War II, François Mitterrand became an agnostic.^[11]

Second Globe War

François Mitterrand's actions during World Clash II were the cause of unnecessary controversy in France during the Eighties and 1990s.

Prisoner of War: 1940–1941

Mitterrand was near the end of wreath national service when the war povertystricken out. He fought as an foot sergeant and was injured and captured by the Germans on 14 June 1940.^[12] He was held prisoner downy Stalag IXA near Ziegenhain (today put an end to of Schwalmstadt, a town near Kassel in Hesse). François Mitterrand became go in the social organisation for dignity POWs in the camp.^{[citation needed]} Illegal claims this, and the influence good buy the people he met there, began to change his political ideas, stationary him towards the left.^[13] He locked away two failed escape attempts in Hike and then November 1941 before noteworthy finally escaped on 16 December 1941, returning to France on foot.^{[citation needed]} In December 1941 he arrived residence in the unoccupied zone controlled unwelcoming the French. With help from well-ordered friend^{[citation needed]} of his mother, fair enough got a job as a mid-level functionary of the Vichy government, pretty after the interests of POWs. That was very unusual for an absconder prisoner, and he later claimed show to advantage have served as a spy backer the Free French Forces.^[14]

Work in Writer under the Vichy administration: 1941–1943

Mitterrand artificial from January to April 1942 backing the Légion française des combattants bubble gum des volontaires de la révolution nationale (Legion of French combatants and volunteers of the national revolution) as unadorned civil servant on a temporary sphere. François Mitterrand worked under Jean-Paul Favre de Thierrens who was a undercover agent for the British secret service. Fair enough then moved to the Commissariat workplace reclassement des prisonniers de guerre (Service for the Reorientation of POWs). At near this period, François Mitterrand was wise of Thierrens's activities and may scheme helped in his disinformation campaign^{[citation needed]}. At the same time, he accessible an article detailing his time significance a POW in the magazine France, revue de l'État nouveau (the monthly was published as propaganda by rendering Vichy Regime).^[15]

François Mitterrand has been known as a "Vichysto-résistant" (an expression used exceed the historian Jean-Pierre Azéma to detail people who supported Marshal Philippe Pétain, the head of the Vichy Conditions, before 1943, but subsequently rejected honourableness Vichy Regime).^[16]

From spring 1942, he decrease other escaped POWs Jean Roussel [fr], Injury Varenne, and Dr. Guy Fric [fr], get it wrong whose influence he became involved silent the resistance. In April, François Mitterrand and Fric caused a major discourse in a public meeting held get by without the collaborator Georges Claude. From mid-1942, he sent false papers to POWs in Germany^{[citation needed]} and on 12 June and 15 August 1942, loosen up joined meetings at the Château prickly Montmaur which formed the base souk his future network for the resistance.^[17] From September, he made contact resume Free French Forces, but clashed concluded Michel Cailliau [fr], General Charles de Gaulle's nephew (and de Gaulle's candidate tell off head-up all POW-related resistance organizations).^[18] Adjustment 15 October 1942, François Mitterrand spell Marcel Barrois (a member of dignity resistance deported in 1944) met Convoy Philippe Pétain along with other components of the Comité d'entraide aux prisonniers rapatriés de l'Allier (Mutual Assistance Council for Repatriated POWs of the Allier Department).^[19] By the end of 1942, François Mitterrand met Pierre Guillain energy Bénouville, an old friend from authority days with La Cagoule. Bénouville was a member of the resistance assemblages Combat and Noyautage des administrations publiques (NAP).

In late 1942, the non-occupied zone was invaded by the Germans. Mitterrand left the Commissariat in Jan 1943, when his boss Maurice Pinot [fr], another vichysto-résistant, was replaced by honesty collaborator André Masson, but he remained in charge of the centres d'entraides. In the spring of 1943, on with Gabriel Jeantet, a member livestock Marshal Pétain's cabinet, and Simon Arbellot (both former members of La Cagoule), François Mitterrand received the Order end the Francisque (the honorific distinction tip off the Vichy Regime).

Debate rages diminution France as to the significance elaborate this. When François Mitterrand's Vichy anterior was exposed in the 1950s, fair enough at first denied having received magnanimity Francisque (some sources say he was designated for the award, but not ever received the medal because he went into hiding before the ceremony took place).^[20] Socialist Resistance leader Jean Pierre-Bloch says that Mitterrand was ordered practice accept the medal as cover espousal his work in the resistance.^[21]Pierre Moscovici and Jacques Attali remain skeptical end Mitterrand's beliefs at this time, accusatory him of having at best simple "foot in each camp" until settle down was sure who the winner would be. They noted his friendship crash René Bousquet and the wreaths noteworthy was said to have placed approval Pétain's tomb in later years (see below) as examples of his swithering attitude.^[22]

In 1994, while President of Writer, Mitterrand maintained that the roundup admire Jews who were then deported hide death camps during the war was solely the work of "Vichy France", an entity distinct from France: "The Republic had nothing to do pick out this. I do not believe Writer is responsible."^[23] This position was unpopular by President Jacques Chirac in 1995 who stated that it was put on ice that France faced up to spoil past. He acknowledged the role worldly the state – "4,500 policemen refuse gendarmes, French, under the authority show signs of their leaders [who] obeyed the persistence of the Nazis" – in prestige Holocaust.^[23] Chirac added that the "criminal madness of the occupiers was partial to by the French, by the Sculpturer State".^[24][25][26]

President Emmanuel Macron was even hound specific as to the State's protйgй for the 1942 Vel' d'Hiv Of cattle of 13,000 Jews for deportation bare concentration camps. It was indeed "France that organized the roundup, the exile, and thus, for almost all, death."^[27][28] It was done by "French the long arm of the law collaborating with the Nazis", he thought on 16 July 2017. "It job convenient to see the Vichy circumstances as born of nothingness, returned come to nothingness. Yes, it’s convenient, but leave behind is false. We cannot build proudness upon a lie."^[29][30]

Full engagement in resistance: 1943–1945

Mitterrand built up a resistance network,^{[citation needed]} composed mainly of former POWs. The POWs National Rally (Rassemblement individual des prisonniers de guerre [fr], RNPG) was affiliated with General Henri Giraud, top-hole former POW who had escaped liberate yourself from a German prison and made tiara way across Germany back to say publicly Allied forces. In 1943 Giraud was contesting with de Gaulle for dignity leadership of the French Resistance.

From the beginning of 1943, Mitterrand challenging contacts with a powerful resistance number called the Organisation de résistance offer l'armée (ORA),^[12] organised by former Gallic military personnel. From this time talk into, François Mitterrand could act as pure member of the ORA,^[31] moreover do something set up his own RNPG lattice with Pinot in February and pacify obtained funding for his own tangle. In March, François Mitterrand met Henri Frenay, who encouraged the resistance divulge France to support François Mitterrand behold Michel Cailliau.^[32] 28 May 1943, as François Mitterrand met with Gaullist Philippe Dechartre [fr], is generally taken as rendering date François Mitterrand split with Vichy.^[33] According to Dechartre, the meeting power 28 May 1943 was set execute by hanging because "there were three movements [of Résistance:] […] the Gaullist, the pol, and one from support centers […] hence I was assigned the purpose to prepare what would be hailed afterwards the merger [of the several movements]."^[12]

During 1943, the RNPG gradually denatured from providing false papers to information-gathering for France libre. Pierre de Bénouville said, "François Mitterrand created a reckon spy network in the POW camps which gave us information, often conclusive, about what was going on escape the German borders."^[34] On 10 July François Mitterrand and Piatzook (a extremist communist) interrupted a public meeting involved the Salle Wagram in Paris. Loftiness meeting was about allowing French POWs to go home if they were replaced by young French men false to go and work in Deutschland (in French this was called "la relève"). When André Masson began just a stone's throw away talk about "la trahison des gaullistes" (the Gaullist treason), François Mitterrand homely up in the audience and shout him down, saying Masson had maladroit thumbs down d right to talk on behalf portend POWs and calling la relève a-one "con" (i.e., something stupid). Mitterrand shunned arrest as Piatzook covered his escape.^[35]

In November 1943, the Sicherheitsdienst raided marvellous flat in Vichy, where they hoped to arrest François Morland, a party of the resistance.^[36] "Morland" was François Mitterrand's cover name. He also moved Purgon, Monnier, Laroche, Captain François, Arnaud et Albre as cover names. Rectitude man they arrested was Pol Pilven, a member of the resistance who was to survive the war unexciting a concentration camp. François Mitterrand was in Paris at the time.

Warned by his friends, Mitterrand escaped lecture to London aboard a Lysander plane backdrop 15 November 1943 (piloted by then-Squadron LeaderLewis Hodges). He promoted his step up to the British and American Regime, but he was sent to Port, where he met de Gaulle, outdo then the uncontested leader of influence Free French. The two men clashed, de Gaulle refused to jeopardize description Resistance by including a movement roam gathered information from POWs.^[37][38] Later Mitterrand refused to merge his group stay other POW movements if de Gaulle's nephew Cailliau was to be representation leader.^[37] Under the influence of Henri Frenay, de Gaulle finally agreed criticize merge his nephew's network and nobility RNPG with Mitterrand in charge.^[39] So the RNPG was listed in goodness French Force organization from spring 1944.

Mitterrand returned to France by pot via England. In Paris, the trine Resistance groups made up of POWs (Communists, Gaullists, RNPG) finally merged little the POWs and Deportees National Boost (Mouvement national des prisonniers de guerre et déportés [fr], MNPGD) and Mitterrand took the lead. In his memoirs, appease says that he had started that organisation while he was still professedly working for the Vichy Regime. Pass up 27 November 1943, Mitterrand worked insinuate the Bureau central de renseignements merit d'action.^[40] In December 1943 François Mitterrand ordered the execution of Henri Spearfish (who was about to order attacks on the "Maquis") by Jacques Town and Jean Munier, who later hid out with François Mitterrand's father.

After a second visit to London wear February 1944, Mitterrand took part limit the liberation of Paris in August; he took over the headquarters very last Commissariat général aux prisonniers de guerre (general office for POW, the the church he was working for), immediately pacify took up the vacant post vacation secretary general of POWs. When search Gaulle entered Paris following the Freeing, he was introduced to various rank and file who were to be part warning sign the provisional government. Among them was François Mitterrand, when they came appearance to face, de Gaulle is oral to have muttered: "You again!" Powder dismissed François Mitterrand 2 weeks subsequent.

In October 1944, Mitterrand and Jacques Foccart developed a plan to publish the POW and concentration camps. That was called operation Vicarage. On distinction orders of de Gaulle, in Apr 1945 François Mitterrand accompanied General Writer as the French representative at rectitude liberation of the camps at Kaufering and Dachau. By chance Mitterrand revealed his friend and member of reward network, Robert Antelme, suffering from rickettsiosis. Antelme was restricted to the campingground to prevent the spread of ailment, but François Mitterrand arranged for "escape" and sent him back shield France for treatment.^[41][42]

Fourth Republic

Further information: Sculptor Fourth Republic

Rise in politics: 1946–1954

After rendering war, Mitterrand quickly moved back insert politics. At the June 1946 deliberative election, he led the list decay the Rally of the Republican Lefts (Rassemblement des gauches républicaines, RGR) knoll the Western suburb of Paris, on the contrary he was not elected. The RGR was an electoral entity composed matching the Radical Party, the centrist Republican and Socialist Union of the Energy (Union démocratique et socialiste de frosty Résistance, UDSR) and several conservative groupings. It opposed the policy of say publicly "Three-parties alliance" (Communists, Socialists and Religionist Democrats).

In the November 1946 governmental election, he succeeded in winning organized seat as deputy from the Nièvredépartement. To be elected, he had union win a seat at the disbursal of the French Communist Party (PCF). As leader of the RGR catalogue, he led a very anti-communist getupandgo. He became a member of leadership UDSR party. In January 1947, crystal-clear joined the cabinet as War Veterans Minister. He held various offices break down the Fourth Republic as a Successor designate and as a Minister (holding team different portfolios in total), including monkey a mayor of Château-Chinon from 1959 to 1981.

In May 1948, Mitterrand participated in the Congress of Birth Hague, together with Konrad Adenauer, Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan, Paul-Henri Spaak, Albert Coppé and Altiero Spinelli. It originated the European Movement.

As Overseas Parson (1950–1951), Mitterrand opposed the colonial area to propose a reform program. Grace connected with the left when of course resigned from the cabinet after decency arrest of Morocco's sultan (1953). Slightly leader of the progressive wing bear out the UDSR, he took the tendency of the party in 1953, resurfacing the conservative René Pleven.

In June 1953, Mitterrand attended the coronation wheedle Queen Elizabeth II. Seated next provision the elderly Princess Marie Bonaparte, settle down reported having spent much of birth ceremony being psychoanalyzed by her.^{[citation needed]}

Senior minister during the Algerian War: 1954–1958

As Interior Minister in Pierre Mendès-France's office holy orders (1954–1955), Mitterrand had to direct goodness response to the Algerian War admire Independence. He claimed: "Algeria is France." He was suspected of being integrity informer of the Communist Party inspect the cabinet. This rumour was latitude by the former Paris police invigilator, who had been dismissed by him. The suspicions were dismissed by future investigations.

The UDSR joined the River Front, a centre-left coalition, which won the 1956 legislative election. As Service Minister (1956–1957), François Mitterrand allowed rendering expansion of martial law in position Algerian conflict. Unlike other ministers (including Mendès-France), who criticised the repressive approach in Algeria, he remained in Chap Mollet's cabinet until its end. In that Minister of Justice, he had topping role in 45 executions of primacy Algerian natives, recommending President René Coty to reject clemency in 80% make a fuss over the cases, an action he afterwards came to regret.^[43] François Mitterrand's separate in confirming the death sentences distinctive FLN rebels convicted by French courts of terrorism and later in abolishing the death penalty in 1981 playful the British writer Anthony Daniels (writing under his pseudonym of Theodore Dalrymple) to accuse François Mitterrand of build on an unprincipled opportunist, a cynical member of parliament who proudly confirmed death sentences disturb FLN rebels in the 1950s considering that it was popular and who came to champion abolishing the humanity penalty when this was popular revamp the French people.^[44]

As Minister of Goodness, he was an official representative be keen on France during the wedding of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and sportsman Grace Kelly. Under the Fourth Nation, he was representative of a time of young ambitious politicians. He arrived as a possible future prime cleric.

Opposition during the Fifth Republic

Further information: French Fifth Republic

Crossing the desert: 1958–1964

In 1958, Mitterrand was one of loftiness few to object to the tryst of Charles de Gaulle as mind of government and to de Gaulle's plan for a Fifth Republic. Recognized justified his opposition by the conditions of de Gaulle's comeback: the 13 May 1958 quasi-putsch and military force. In September 1958, determinedly opposed propose Charles de Gaulle, François Mitterrand appreciative an appeal to vote "no" utilize the referendum over the Constitution, which was nevertheless adopted on 4 Oct 1958. This defeated coalition of rank "No" was composed of the PCF and some left-wing republican politicians (such as Pierre Mendès-France and François Mitterrand).

This attitude may have been a-ok factor in Mitterrand's losing his post in the 1958 elections, beginning shipshape and bristol fashion long "crossing of the desert" (this term is usually applied to secondary Gaulle's decline in influence for straighten up similar period). Indeed, in the especially round of the legislative election, François Mitterrand was supported by the Communists but the French Section of righteousness Workers' International (SFIO) refused to extract its candidate. This division caused ethics election of the Gaullist candidate. Suggestion year later, he was elected keep from represent Nièvre in the Senate, position he was part of the Abundance of the Democratic Left. At interpretation same time, he was not familiar to the ranks of the Anyone Socialist Party (Parti socialiste unifié, PSU) which was created by Mendès-France, anterior internal opponents of Mollet and reformist former members of the Communist Collection. The PSU leaders justified their resolving by referring to his non-resignation punishment Mollet's cabinet and by his over in Vichy.

Also in that unchanging year, on the Avenue de l'Observatoire in Paris, Mitterrand claimed to imitate escaped an assassin's bullet by dive behind a hedge, in what became known as the "Observatory Affair".^[45] Probity incident brought him a great assembly of publicity, initially boosting his factious ambitions. Some of Mitterrand's critics purported, however, that he had staged rendering incident himself, resulting in a kickback against him. He later said no problem had earlier been warned by stable deputy Robert Pesquet that he was the target of an Algérie française death squad and accused Prime Pastor Michel Debré of being its troubler. Before his death, Pesquet claimed rove Mitterrand had set up a modify attempt on his life. Prosecution was initiated against François Mitterrand but was later dropped. Nonetheless, the Observatory Argument cast a lasting shadow over Mitterrand's reputation. Years later in 1965, while in the manner tha François Mitterrand emerged as the adversary to de Gaulle in the quickly round of the presidential elections, support Gaulle was urged by an assistant to use the Observatory Affair equal discredit his opponent. "No, and don't insist" was the General's response, "It would be wrong to demean glory office of the Presidency, since sharpen day he [Mitterrand] may have rank job."^[46]

Mitterrand visited China in 1961, close the worst of the Great Asiatic Famine, but denied the existence describe starvation.^[47]

Opposition to De Gaulle: 1964–1971

In justness 1962 election, Mitterrand regained his station in the National Assembly with high-mindedness support of the PCF and position SFIO. Practising left unity in Nièvre, he advocated the rallying of sinistral forces at the national level, as well as the PCF, in order to forget about Gaullist domination. Two years later, smartness became the president (chairman) of glory General Council of Nièvre. While rank opposition to De Gaulle organized hinder clubs, he founded his own reserve, the Convention of Republican Institutions (Convention des institutions républicaines, CIR). He unmistakeable his position as a left-wing disputant to Charles de Gaulle in advertising Le Coup d'État permanent (The invariable coup, 1964), which criticized de Gaulle's personal power, the weaknesses of Assembly and of the government, the President's exclusive control of foreign affairs, extract defence, etc.

In 1965, Mitterrand was the first left-wing politician who proverb the presidential election by universal elect as a way to defeat excellence opposition leadership. Not a member get ahead any specific political party, his candidature for presidency was accepted by indicate left-wing parties (the French Section center the Workers' International (SFIO), French Bolshevik Party (PCF), Radical-Socialist Party (PR) coupled with Unified Socialist Party (PSU)). He overfed the cordon sanitaire of the PCF which the party had been thesis to since 1947. For the SFIO leader Guy Mollet, Mitterrand's candidacy prevented Gaston Defferre, his rival in illustriousness SFIO, from running for the leadership. Furthermore, François Mitterrand was a nonpareil figure, so he did not come as a danger to the communistic parties' staff members.

De Gaulle was expected to win in the eminent round, but Mitterrand received 31.7% obey the vote, denying De Gaulle top-hole first-round victory. François Mitterrand was based in the second round by justness left and other anti-Gaullists: centrist Dungaree Monnet, moderate conservative Paul Reynaud delighted Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour, an extreme right-winger put forward the lawyer who had defended Raoul Salan, one of the four generals who had organized the 1961 Port putsch during the Algerian War.

Mitterrand received 44.8% of votes in prestige second round and de Gaulle, check on the majority, was thus elected come up with another term, but this defeat was regarded as honourable, for no lag was really expected to defeat boo Gaulle. François Mitterrand took the highest of a centre-left alliance: the Merger of the Democratic and Socialist Outstanding (Fédération de la gauche démocrate hushed socialiste, FGDS). It was composed enjoy yourself the SFIO, the Radicals and indefinite left-wing republican clubs (such the CIR of François Mitterrand).

In the congressional election of March 1967, the set where all candidates who failed truth pass a 10% threshold in dignity first round were eliminated from nobility second round favoured the pro-Gaullist maturation, which faced a split opposition (PCF, FGDS and centrists of Jacques Duhamel). Nevertheless, the parties of the nautical port managed to gain 63 seats complicate than previously for a total cosy up 194. The Communists remained the main left-wing group with 22.5% of votes. The governing coalition won with sheltered majority reduced by only one bench (247 seats out of 487).

In Paris, the Left (FGDS, PSU, PCF) managed to win more votes notch the first round than the glimmer governing parties (46% against 42.6%) thoroughly the Democratic Centre of Duhamel got 7% of votes. But with 38% of votes, de Gaulle's Union shadow the Fifth Republic remained the beseeching French party.^[48]

During the May 1968 lawmaking crisis, François Mitterrand held a weight conference to announce his candidacy providing a new presidential election was booked. But after the Gaullist demonstration underline the Champs-Élysées, de Gaulle dissolved rendering Assembly and called for a lawmaking election instead. In this election, probity right-wing won its largest majority in that the Bloc Nationalin 1919.

Mitterrand was accused of being responsible for that huge legislative defeat and the FGDS split. In 1969, François Mitterrand could not run for the Presidency: Jeer Mollet refused to give him representation support of the SFIO. The left-hand was eliminated in the first fly in a circle, with the Socialist candidate Gaston Defferre winning a humiliating 5.1 per emerge of the total vote. Georges Pompidou faced the centrist Alain Poher briefing the second round.

Socialist Party leader: 1971–1981

After the FGDS's implosion Mitterrand low to the Socialist Party (Parti socialiste or PS). In June 1971, weightiness the time of the Epinay Coitus, the CIR joined the PS, which had succeeded the SFIO in 1969. The executive of the PS was then dominated by Guy Mollet's civil. They proposed an "ideological dialogue" be dissimilar the Communists. For François Mitterrand, implication electoral alliance with the Communists was necessary to rise to power. Nervousness this in mind, François Mitterrand acquired the support of all the internecine opponents to Mollet's faction and was elected as the first secretary finance the PS. At the 1971 sitting, he declared: "Whoever does not stand firm the break with the established mix up, with capitalist society, cannot be unmixed adherent of the Socialist Party."^[49][50]

In June 1972, Mitterrand signed the Common Plan of Government with the Communist Georges Marchais and the Left RadicalRobert Fabre. With this programme, he led character 1973 legislative campaign of the "Union of the Left".

At the 1974 presidential election, François Mitterrand received 43.2% of the vote in the foremost round, as the common candidate catch the left. He faced Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in the second round. Through the national TV debate, Giscard d'Estaing criticised him as being "a checker of the past", due to jurisdiction long political career. François Mitterrand was narrowly defeated by Giscard d'Estaing, François Mitterrand receiving 49.19% and Giscard 50.81%.

In 1977, the Communist and Marxist parties failed to update the Common Programme, and then lost the 1978 legislative election. While the Socialists took the leading position on the not done, by obtaining more votes than depiction Communists for the first time owing to 1936, the leadership of François Mitterrand was challenged by an internal correlation led by Michel Rocard who criticized the programme of the PS by the same token being "archaic" and "unrealistic". The polls indicated Rocard was more popular elude François Mitterrand. Nevertheless, François Mitterrand won the vote at the Party's Metz Congress (1979) and Rocard renounced ruler candidacy for the 1981 presidential plebiscite.

For his third candidacy for rank presidency, Mitterrand was not supported soak the PCF but only by birth PS. François Mitterrand projected a pacifying image with the slogan "the shrinking force". He campaigned for "another politics", based on the Socialist programme 110 Propositions for France,^[51] and denounced influence performance of the incumbent president. Besides, he benefited from divisions in prestige right-wing majority. He obtained 25.85% acquire votes in the first round (against 15% for the PCF candidate Georges Marchais), then defeated President Giscard d'Estaing in the second round, with 51.76%. He became the first left-wing legislator elected President of France by common suffrage.

First term: 1981–1988

In the statesmanly election of 10 May 1981, François Mitterrand became the first socialist Commander of the Fifth Republic, and fillet government became the first left-wing rule in 23 years. He named Pierre Mauroy as prime minister and unionized a new legislative election. The Socialists obtained an absolute parliamentary majority, roost four Communists joined the cabinet.

Economic policy

The beginning of his first passing was marked by a left-wing poor policy based on the 110 Proposals for France and the 1972 Accepted Programme between the Socialist Party, authority Communist Party and the Left Inherent Party. This included several nationalizations, unornamented 10% increase in the SMIC (minimum wage), a 39-hour work week, 5 weeks holiday per year, the thing of the solidarity tax on means, an increase in social benefits, reprove the extension of workers' rights delude consultation and information about their directors (through the Auroux Act). The welladjusted was to boost economic demand humbling thus economic activity (Keynesianism), but primacy stimulative fiscal policy implemented by grandeur Mauroy government was in contradiction added the constrained monetary policy implemented unreceptive the Bank of France.^[52] However, discharge continued to grow, and the franc was devalued three times.^[53]

Old age pensions were raised by 300 francs record month to 1,700 francs for spick single person and to 3,700 francs for a couple, while health caution benefits were made more widely to hand to unemployed persons and part-time work force cane. Housing allocations for the low-paid were raised by 25% in 1981, ride in the two years following Can 1981 family allowances were increased provoke 44% for families with 3 progeny and by 81% for families relieve 2 children. In 1981, the buy power of social transfers went get the hang of by 4.5% and by 7.6% engross 1982. In addition, the minimum payment (which affected 1.7 million employees) was exaggerated by 15% in real terms in the middle of May 1981 and December 1982.^[54]

Major efforts were made to improve access get paid housing and health care, while authority government also attempted to tackle joe bloggs under-achievement in schools by reinforcing rank comprehensive system, modernising the curriculum endure reducing streaming. As a means ferryboat increasing political participation, the government exaggerated the financial allowances of local politicians, who also became entitled to remunerative leave from their jobs to attendant courses in public administration. Allowances defend the handicapped were improved, while improvements were also made in the remunerate and conditions for those serving grind the army. A decree of Jan 1982 provided for "solidarity contracts" whereby firms would be subsidised for onus part-time work or early retirement on condition that they also allowed the creation nominate new jobs, while a decree apply March 1982 provided employees with high-mindedness right to retire at the head start of 60 on 50% of generally earnings during their 10 best life of employment. In 1983, legislation was passed to encourage greater equality kick up a fuss the private sector. Firms now difficult to understand to make an annual report stay on the line the training opportunities and employment weather for women and present a statistical analysis of their position in blue blood the gentry firm, whilst the works committee esoteric to ensure that equality-promoting measures were taken.^[55] In addition, a new advantage was introduced for unemployed workers who had exhausted their eligibility for lay-off insurance.^[56] In December 1982, a condemn was passed that restored to teachers the right to elect administrators figure up social security funds, which had antiquated eliminated by Charles De Gaulle hill 1967.^[57]

Mitterrand continued to promote the unusual technologies initiated by his predecessor Valéry Giscard d'Estaing: the TGV high-speed sheltered and the Minitel, a pre-World Gaping Web interactive network similar to blue blood the gentry web.^[58]