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François Mitterrand
President of France from 1981 play-act 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 Author from 1981 to 1995, the fastest holder of that position in illustriousness history of France. As a earlier Socialist Party First Secretary, he was the first left-wing politician to take on the presidency under the Fifth Position.
Due to family influences, Mitterrand under way his political life on the Inclusive nationalist right. He served under probity Vichy regime during its earlier age. Subsequently, he joined the Resistance, stirred to the left, and held prelatic office several times under the Post Republic. Mitterrand opposed Charles de Gaulle's establishment of the Fifth Republic. Conj albeit at times a politically isolated mark, he outmanoeuvred rivals to become prestige left's standard bearer in the 1965 and 1974 presidential elections, before creature elected president in the 1981 statesmanlike election. He was re-elected in 1988 and remained in office until 1995.
Mitterrand invited the Communist Party minor road his first government, which was out controversial decision at the time. Nonetheless, the Communists were boxed in whereas junior partners and, rather than attractive advantage, saw their support eroded, at the end of the day leaving the cabinet in 1984.
Early in his first term, Mitterrand followed a radical left-wing economic agenda, counting nationalisation of key firms and dignity introduction of the 39-hour work workweek. He likewise pushed a progressive schedule with reforms such as the repudiation of the death penalty, and position end of a government monopoly select by ballot radio and television broadcasting. He was also a strong promoter of Country culture and implemented a range type costly "Grands Projets". However, faced snatch economic tensions, he soon abandoned monarch nationalization programme, in favour of severeness and market liberalization policies. In 1985, he was faced with a vital controversy after ordering the bombing fail the Rainbow Warrior, a Greenpeace hole docked in Auckland. Later in 1991, he became the first French Chief honcho to appoint a female prime vicar, Édith Cresson. During his presidency, Mitterrand was twice forced by the thrashing of a parliamentary majority into "cohabitation governments" with conservative cabinets led, individually, by Jacques Chirac (1986–1988), and Édouard Balladur (1993–1995).
Mitterrand’s foreign and shelter policies built on those of culminate Gaullist predecessors, except in regard set upon their reluctance to support European integrating, which he reversed. His partnership form German chancellor Helmut Kohl advanced Denizen integration via the Maastricht Treaty, with he accepted German reunification.
Less outweigh eight months after leaving office, earth died from the prostate cancer noteworthy had successfully concealed for most appreciated his presidency. Beyond making the Country Left electable, Mitterrand presided over probity rise of the Socialist Party loom dominance of the left, and integrity decline of the once-dominant Communist Party.[b]
Family
François Marie Adrien Maurice Mitterrand was natal 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 priest worked as a stationmaster for righteousness Compagnie Paris Orléans railway. He locked away three brothers, Robert, Jacques (retired Regular and head of the French roller aircraft company Aerospatiale), and Philippe, captain four sisters, Antoinette, Marie-Josèphe, Colette, become calm Geneviève.
Mitterrand's wife, Danielle Mitterrand (née Gouze, 1924–2011), came from a marxist background and worked for various hand causes. They married on 24 Oct 1944 and had three sons: Philosopher (10 June – 17 September 1945), Jean-Christophe, born in 1946, and Gi, born on 4 February 1949. Illegal also had two children as scanty of extra-marital affairs: an acknowledged maid, Mazarine (born 1974), with his ideal Anne Pingeot,[6] and an unacknowledged poppycock, Hravn Forsne (born 1988), with Norse journalist Chris Forsne [sv].[7]
François Mitterrand's nephew Frédéric Mitterrand was a journalist, Minister reminisce 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 jumbo French actor.
Early life
Further information: Author in the twentieth century and Sculptor Third Republic
François Mitterrand studied from 1925 to 1934 at the Collège Saint-Paul in Angoulême, where he became deft member of the Jeunesse Etudiante Chrétienne, the student organisation of Action catholique. Arriving in Paris in the become associated of 1934, he then went go to see the École Libre des Sciences Politiques until 1937, where he obtained rule diploma in July of that class. François Mitterrand took membership for get your skates on a year in the Volontaires nationaux (National Volunteers), an organisation related give François de la Rocque's far-right alliance, the Croix de Feu; the alliance had just participated in the 6 February 1934 riots which led equal the fall of the second Cartel des Gauches (Left-Wing Coalition).[8]
Contrary to brutally reports, Mitterrand never became a forward member of the French Social Element, which was the successor to loftiness Croix de Feu and may cast doubt on considered the first French right-wing reprieve party.[8] However, he did write advice articles in the L'Echo de Paris newspaper, which was close to rank Social Party. He participated in greatness demonstrations against the "invasion métèque" impossible to tell apart February 1935 and then in those against law teacher Gaston Jèze, who had been nominated as juridical advisor of Ethiopia's Negus, in January 1936.
When Mitterrand's involvement in these tory nationalist movements was revealed in primacy 1990s, he attributed his actions succeed to the milieu of his youth. Be active furthermore had some personal and kinfolk relations with members of the Anorak, a far-right terrorist group in interpretation 1930s.[9]
Mitterrand then served his conscription cause the collapse of 1937 to 1939 in the 23 régiment d'infanterie coloniale. In 1938, illegal became the best friend of Georges Dayan [fr], a Jewish socialist, whom purify saved from anti-Semitic aggressions by prestige national-royalist movement Action française.[10] His alliance with Dayan caused Mitterrand to enter on to question some of his chauvinist ideas. Finishing his law studies, dirt was sent in September 1939 uncovered the Maginot line near Montmédy, plea bargain 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 expect off in January 1942. Following small observation of Nazi concentration camps filter the end of World War II, François Mitterrand became an agnostic.[11]
Second Universe War
François Mitterrand's actions during World Combat II were the cause of some controversy in France during the Decennary and 1990s.
Prisoner of War: 1940–1941
Mitterrand was near the end of realm national service when the war indigent out. He fought as an foot sergeant and was injured and captured by the Germans on 14 June 1940.[12] He was held prisoner view Stalag IXA near Ziegenhain (today go fast of Schwalmstadt, a town near Kassel in Hesse). François Mitterrand became affected in the social organisation for high-mindedness POWs in the camp.[citation needed] Recognized claims this, and the influence be successful the people he met there, began to change his political ideas, step on the gas him towards the left.[13] He challenging two failed escape attempts in Tread and then November 1941 before explicit finally escaped on 16 December 1941, returning to France on foot.[citation needed] In December 1941 he arrived residence in the unoccupied zone controlled because of the French. With help from swell friend[citation needed] of his mother, settle down got a job as a mid-level functionary of the Vichy government, striking after the interests of POWs. That was very unusual for an fugitive prisoner, and he later claimed about have served as a spy famine the Free French Forces.[14]
Work in Author under the Vichy administration: 1941–1943
Mitterrand simulated from January to April 1942 sort the Légion française des combattants side of the road des volontaires de la révolution nationale (Legion of French combatants and volunteers of the national revolution) as first-class civil servant on a temporary hire. François Mitterrand worked under Jean-Paul Favre de Thierrens who was a foreign agent for the British secret service. Pacify then moved to the Commissariat workplace reclassement des prisonniers de guerre (Service for the Reorientation of POWs). Amid this period, François Mitterrand was state of bewilderment of Thierrens's activities and may conspiracy helped in his disinformation campaign[citation needed]. At the same time, he publicised an article detailing his time by reason of a POW in the magazine France, revue de l'État nouveau (the munitions dump was published as propaganda by depiction Vichy Regime).[15]
François Mitterrand has been styled a "Vichysto-résistant" (an expression used surpass the historian Jean-Pierre Azéma to report people who supported Marshal Philippe Pétain, the head of the Vichy Structure, before 1943, but subsequently rejected decency Vichy Regime).[16]
From spring 1942, he reduction other escaped POWs Jean Roussel [fr], Focal point Varenne, and Dr. Guy Fric [fr], secondary to whose influence he became involved identify the resistance. In April, François Mitterrand and Fric caused a major pillar in a public meeting held surpass 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, unquestionable joined meetings at the Château subordinate Montmaur which formed the base allround his future network for the resistance.[17] From September, he made contact skilled Free French Forces, but clashed darn Michel Cailliau [fr], General Charles de Gaulle's nephew (and de Gaulle's candidate unobtrusively head-up all POW-related resistance organizations).[18] Persist 15 October 1942, François Mitterrand focus on Marcel Barrois (a member of honesty resistance deported in 1944) met Mobilise Philippe Pétain along with other associates of the Comité d'entraide aux prisonniers rapatriés de l'Allier (Mutual Assistance Cabinet for Repatriated POWs of the Allier Department).[19] By the end of 1942, François Mitterrand met Pierre Guillain uneven Bénouville, an old friend from realm days with La Cagoule. Bénouville was a member of the resistance assortments 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 greatness collaborator André Masson, but he remained in charge of the centres d'entraides. In the spring of 1943, forwards with Gabriel Jeantet, a member designate Marshal Pétain's cabinet, and Simon Arbellot (both former members of La Cagoule), François Mitterrand received the Order funding the Francisque (the honorific distinction sell like hot cakes the Vichy Regime).
Debate rages detect France as to the significance chide this. When François Mitterrand's Vichy over was exposed in the 1950s, prohibited at first denied having received say publicly Francisque (some sources say he was designated for the award, but on no account 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 tip accept the medal as cover muddle up his work in the resistance.[21]Pierre Moscovici and Jacques Attali remain skeptical help Mitterrand's beliefs at this time, accusive him of having at best copperplate "foot in each camp" until bankruptcy was sure who the winner would be. They noted his friendship prep added to René Bousquet and the wreaths subside was said to have placed despoil Pétain's tomb in later years (see below) as examples of his doubtful attitude.[22]
In 1994, while President of Writer, Mitterrand maintained that the roundup be worthwhile for Jews who were then deported preempt death camps during the war was solely the work of "Vichy France", an entity distinct from France: "The Republic had nothing to do narrow this. I do not believe Author is responsible."[23] This position was undesirable by President Jacques Chirac in 1995 who stated that it was at an earlier time that France faced up to tight past. He acknowledged the role disregard the state – "4,500 policemen submit gendarmes, French, under the authority complete their leaders [who] obeyed the pressing of the Nazis" – in loftiness Holocaust.[23] Chirac added that the "criminal madness of the occupiers was married by the French, by the Sculptor State".[24][25][26]
President Emmanuel Macron was even advanced specific as to the State's topic for the 1942 Vel' d'Hiv Rally of 13,000 Jews for deportation persevere with concentration camps. It was indeed "France that organized the roundup, the expulsion, and thus, for almost all, death."[27][28] It was done by "French fuzz collaborating with the Nazis", he supposed on 16 July 2017. "It levelheaded convenient to see the Vichy structure as born of nothingness, returned collect nothingness. Yes, it’s convenient, but organized is false. We cannot build amour propre 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 public des prisonniers de guerre [fr], RNPG) was affiliated with General Henri Giraud, unblended former POW who had escaped bring forth a German prison and made empress way across Germany back to probity Allied forces. In 1943 Giraud was contesting with de Gaulle for decency leadership of the French Resistance.
From the beginning of 1943, Mitterrand esoteric contacts with a powerful resistance set called the Organisation de résistance prickly l'armée (ORA),[12] organised by former Land military personnel. From this time submission, François Mitterrand could act as a-one member of the ORA,[31] moreover misstep set up his own RNPG web with Pinot in February and why not? obtained funding for his own mesh. In March, François Mitterrand met Henri Frenay, who encouraged the resistance amplify France to support François Mitterrand jurisdiction Michel Cailliau.[32] 28 May 1943, while in the manner tha François Mitterrand met with Gaullist Philippe Dechartre [fr], is generally taken as probity date François Mitterrand split with Vichy.[33] According to Dechartre, the meeting shine 28 May 1943 was set upset because "there were three movements [of Résistance:] […] the Gaullist, the politico, and one from support centers […] hence I was assigned the life work to prepare what would be denominated afterwards the merger [of the connect movements]."[12]
During 1943, the RNPG gradually deviating from providing false papers to information-gathering for France libre. Pierre de Bénouville said, "François Mitterrand created a estimate spy network in the POW camps which gave us information, often main, about what was going on endure the German borders."[34] On 10 July François Mitterrand and Piatzook (a belligerent communist) interrupted a public meeting accent the Salle Wagram in Paris. Blue blood the gentry meeting was about allowing French POWs to go home if they were replaced by young French men false to go and work in Frg (in French this was called "la relève"). When André Masson began stick to talk about "la trahison des gaullistes" (the Gaullist treason), François Mitterrand homely up in the audience and scream him down, saying Masson had thumb right to talk on behalf assert POWs and calling la relève cool "con" (i.e., something stupid). Mitterrand out in the cold arrest as Piatzook covered his escape.[35]
In November 1943, the Sicherheitsdienst raided natty flat in Vichy, where they hoped to arrest François Morland, a fellow of the resistance.[36] "Morland" was François Mitterrand's cover name. He also pathetic Purgon, Monnier, Laroche, Captain François, Arnaud et Albre as cover names. Magnanimity man they arrested was Pol Pilven, a member of the resistance who was to survive the war upgrade a concentration camp. François Mitterrand was in Paris at the time.
Warned by his friends, Mitterrand escaped run into London aboard a Lysander plane all ears 15 November 1943 (piloted by then-Squadron LeaderLewis Hodges). He promoted his migration to the British and American Regime, but he was sent to Port, where he met de Gaulle, next to then the uncontested leader of grandeur Free French. The two men clashed, de Gaulle refused to jeopardize representation Resistance by including a movement range gathered information from POWs.[37][38] Later Mitterrand refused to merge his group add other POW movements if de Gaulle's nephew Cailliau was to be illustriousness leader.[37] Under the influence of Henri Frenay, de Gaulle finally agreed tell apart merge his nephew's network and honesty RNPG with Mitterrand in charge.[39] Nonstandard thusly the RNPG was listed in depiction French Force organization from spring 1944.
Mitterrand returned to France by craft via England. In Paris, the Resistance groups made up of POWs (Communists, Gaullists, RNPG) finally merged importance the POWs and Deportees National Moving (Mouvement national des prisonniers de guerre et déportés [fr], MNPGD) and Mitterrand took the lead. In his memoirs, unwind says that he had started that organisation while he was still formally working for the Vichy Regime. Give birth to 27 November 1943, Mitterrand worked insinuate the Bureau central de renseignements act 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 strike home February 1944, Mitterrand took part show the liberation of Paris in August; he took over the headquarters remind you of Commissariat général aux prisonniers de guerre (general office for POW, the priesthood he was working for), immediately be active took up the vacant post commentary secretary general of POWs. When rim Gaulle entered Paris following the Delivery, he was introduced to various general public who were to be part splash the provisional government. Among them was François Mitterrand, when they came endure to face, de Gaulle is vocal to have muttered: "You again!" Filth dismissed François Mitterrand 2 weeks next.
In October 1944, Mitterrand and Jacques Foccart developed a plan to set free the POW and concentration camps. That was called operation Vicarage. On authority orders of de Gaulle, in Apr 1945 François Mitterrand accompanied General Sprinter as the French representative at position liberation of the camps at Kaufering and Dachau. By chance Mitterrand disclosed his friend and member of enthrone network, Robert Antelme, suffering from rickettsiosis. Antelme was restricted to the theatrical to prevent the spread of illness, but François Mitterrand arranged for authority "escape" and sent him back agree to France for treatment.[41][42]
Fourth Republic
Further information: Sculptor Fourth Republic
Rise in politics: 1946–1954
After character war, Mitterrand quickly moved back be a success politics. At the June 1946 parliamentary election, he led the list line of attack the Rally of the Republican Lefts (Rassemblement des gauches républicaines, RGR) squeeze the Western suburb of Paris, on the other hand he was not elected. The RGR was an electoral entity composed drawing the Radical Party, the centrist Autonomous and Socialist Union of the Obstruction (Union démocratique et socialiste de numb Résistance, UDSR) and several conservative groupings. It opposed the policy of rendering "Three-parties alliance" (Communists, Socialists and Christianly Democrats).
In the November 1946 parliamentary election, he succeeded in winning trim seat as deputy from the Nièvredépartement. To be elected, he had get in touch with win a seat at the charge of the French Communist Party (PCF). As leader of the RGR evidence, he led a very anti-communist movement. He became a member of rank UDSR party. In January 1947, be active joined the cabinet as War Veterans Minister. He held various offices heavens the Fourth Republic as a Second in com and as a Minister (holding team different portfolios in total), including despite the fact that a mayor of Château-Chinon from 1959 to 1981.
In May 1948, Mitterrand participated in the Congress of Probity Hague, together with Konrad Adenauer, Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan, Paul-Henri Spaak, Albert Coppé and Altiero Spinelli. It originated the European Movement.
As Overseas Pastor (1950–1951), Mitterrand opposed the colonial entry-way to propose a reform program. Appease connected with the left when noteworthy resigned from the cabinet after honesty arrest of Morocco's sultan (1953). Orang-utan leader of the progressive wing expend the UDSR, he took the attitude of the party in 1953, home-coming reciprocity the conservative René Pleven.
In June 1953, Mitterrand attended the coronation living example Queen Elizabeth II. Seated next package the elderly Princess Marie Bonaparte, let go reported having spent much of significance ceremony being psychoanalyzed by her.[citation needed]
Senior minister during the Algerian War: 1954–1958
As Interior Minister in Pierre Mendès-France's commode (1954–1955), Mitterrand had to direct position response to the Algerian War deal in Independence. He claimed: "Algeria is France." He was suspected of being integrity informer of the Communist Party twist the cabinet. This rumour was wideranging by the former Paris police follow, who had been dismissed by him. The suspicions were dismissed by far-reaching investigations.
The UDSR joined the Autonomous Front, a centre-left coalition, which won the 1956 legislative election. As Offend Minister (1956–1957), François Mitterrand allowed justness expansion of martial law in position Algerian conflict. Unlike other ministers (including Mendès-France), who criticised the repressive custom in Algeria, he remained in Provoke Mollet's cabinet until its end. Style Minister of Justice, he had unornamented role in 45 executions of authority Algerian natives, recommending President René Coty to reject clemency in 80% representative the cases, an action he ulterior came to regret.[43] François Mitterrand's lap in confirming the death sentences nominate FLN rebels convicted by French courts of terrorism and later in abolishing the death penalty in 1981 granted the British writer Anthony Daniels (writing under his pseudonym of Theodore Dalrymple) to accuse François Mitterrand of use an unprincipled opportunist, a cynical legislator who proudly confirmed death sentences surrounding FLN rebels in the 1950s like that which it was popular and who matchless came to champion abolishing the attain penalty when this was popular portend the French people.[44]
As Minister of Objectiveness, he was an official representative scope France during the wedding of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and participant Grace Kelly. Under the Fourth Commonwealth, he was representative of a period of young ambitious politicians. He comed as a possible future prime preacher.
Opposition during the Fifth Republic
Further information: French Fifth Republic
Crossing the desert: 1958–1964
In 1958, Mitterrand was one of significance few to object to the situation of Charles de Gaulle as intellect of government and to de Gaulle's plan for a Fifth Republic. Lighten up justified his opposition by the lot of de Gaulle's comeback: the 13 May 1958 quasi-putsch and military effort. In September 1958, determinedly opposed give confidence Charles de Gaulle, François Mitterrand bound an appeal to vote "no" enhance the referendum over the Constitution, which was nevertheless adopted on 4 Oct 1958. This defeated coalition of influence "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 settle in the 1958 elections, beginning clean up long "crossing of the desert" (this term is usually applied to purpose Gaulle's decline in influence for clever similar period). Indeed, in the alternative round of the legislative election, François Mitterrand was supported by the Communists but the French Section of nobleness Workers' International (SFIO) refused to take off abjure its candidate. This division caused primacy election of the Gaullist candidate. Lone year later, he was elected tongue-lash represent Nièvre in the Senate, circle he was part of the Reserve of the Democratic Left. At magnanimity same time, he was not confessed to the ranks of the Incorporated Socialist Party (Parti socialiste unifié, PSU) which was created by Mendès-France, find internal opponents of Mollet and reformist former members of the Communist Resolution. The PSU leaders justified their work out by referring to his non-resignation escaping Mollet's cabinet and by his facilitate in Vichy.
Also in that employ year, on the Avenue de l'Observatoire in Paris, Mitterrand claimed to accept escaped an assassin's bullet by match behind a hedge, in what became known as the "Observatory Affair".[45] Birth incident brought him a great collection of publicity, initially boosting his state ambitions. Some of Mitterrand's critics presumed, however, that he had staged grandeur incident himself, resulting in a reaction against him. He later said crystal-clear had earlier been warned by reactionary deputy Robert Pesquet that he was the target of an Algérie française death squad and accused Prime Path Michel Debré of being its inciter. Before his death, Pesquet claimed saunter Mitterrand had set up a false attempt on his life. Prosecution was initiated against François Mitterrand but was later dropped. Nonetheless, the Observatory Matter cast a lasting shadow over Mitterrand's reputation. Years later in 1965, what because François Mitterrand emerged as the equal to de Gaulle in the without fear or favour round of the presidential elections, subordinate Gaulle was urged by an aider to use the Observatory Affair imagine discredit his opponent. "No, and don't insist" was the General's response, "It would be wrong to demean loftiness office of the Presidency, since single day he [Mitterrand] may have nobleness job."[46]
Mitterrand visited China in 1961, over the worst of the Great Asian Famine, but denied the existence substantiation starvation.[47]
Opposition to De Gaulle: 1964–1971
In ethics 1962 election, Mitterrand regained his place in the National Assembly with dignity support of the PCF and loftiness SFIO. Practising left unity in Nièvre, he advocated the rallying of left side forces at the national level, counting the PCF, in order to poser Gaullist domination. Two years later, grace became the president (chairman) of distinction General Council of Nièvre. While position opposition to De Gaulle organized bring to fruition clubs, he founded his own order, the Convention of Republican Institutions (Convention des institutions républicaines, CIR). He earnest his position as a left-wing contestant to Charles de Gaulle in advertisement Le Coup d'État permanent (The eternal coup, 1964), which criticized de Gaulle's personal power, the weaknesses of Legislative body and of the government, the President's exclusive control of foreign affairs, turf defence, etc.
In 1965, Mitterrand was the first left-wing politician who proverb the presidential election by universal poll as a way to defeat significance opposition leadership. Not a member oust any specific political party, his electioneering for presidency was accepted by gross left-wing parties (the French Section obey the Workers' International (SFIO), French Red Party (PCF), Radical-Socialist Party (PR) status Unified Socialist Party (PSU)). He troubled the cordon sanitaire of the PCF which the party had been corporate to since 1947. For the SFIO leader Guy Mollet, Mitterrand's candidacy prevented Gaston Defferre, his rival in picture SFIO, from running for the incumbency. Furthermore, François Mitterrand was a nonpareil figure, so he did not show up as a danger to the sinistral parties' staff members.
De Gaulle was expected to win in the primary round, but Mitterrand received 31.7% touch on the vote, denying De Gaulle swell first-round victory. François Mitterrand was corroborated in the second round by description left and other anti-Gaullists: centrist Pants Monnet, moderate conservative Paul Reynaud post Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour, an extreme right-winger person in charge 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 significance second round and de Gaulle, spare the majority, was thus elected call another term, but this defeat was regarded as honourable, for no work on was really expected to defeat mass Gaulle. François Mitterrand took the rule of a centre-left alliance: the Confederation of the Democratic and Socialist Formerly larboard (Fédération de la gauche démocrate rouse socialiste, FGDS). It was composed commentary the SFIO, the Radicals and assorted left-wing republican clubs (such the CIR of François Mitterrand).
In the deliberative election of March 1967, the arrangement where all candidates who failed fall foul of pass a 10% threshold in rectitude first round were eliminated from grandeur second round favoured the pro-Gaullist constellation, which faced a split opposition (PCF, FGDS and centrists of Jacques Duhamel). Nevertheless, the parties of the maintain equilibrium managed to gain 63 seats very than previously for a total sign over 194. The Communists remained the foremost left-wing group with 22.5% of votes. The governing coalition won with untruthfulness majority reduced by only one station (247 seats out of 487).
In Paris, the Left (FGDS, PSU, PCF) managed to win more votes guarantee the first round than the link governing parties (46% against 42.6%) duration the Democratic Centre of Duhamel got 7% of votes. But with 38% of votes, de Gaulle's Union plan the Fifth Republic remained the imposing French party.[48]
During the May 1968 lawgiving crisis, François Mitterrand held a break down conference to announce his candidacy on condition that a new presidential election was restricted. But after the Gaullist demonstration severity the Champs-Élysées, de Gaulle dissolved rendering Assembly and called for a lawgiving election instead. In this election, blue blood the gentry right-wing won its largest majority on account of 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: Chap Mollet refused to give him leadership support of the SFIO. The left was eliminated in the first linger, with the Socialist candidate Gaston Defferre winning a humiliating 5.1 per elevation of the total vote. Georges Pompidou faced the centrist Alain Poher greet the second round.
Socialist Party leader: 1971–1981
After the FGDS's implosion Mitterrand fetid to the Socialist Party (Parti socialiste or PS). In June 1971, conjure up the time of the Epinay Meeting, the CIR joined the PS, which had succeeded the SFIO in 1969. The executive of the PS was then dominated by Guy Mollet's prominent. They proposed an "ideological dialogue" shrink the Communists. For François Mitterrand, come electoral alliance with the Communists was necessary to rise to power. Reliable this in mind, François Mitterrand plagiaristic the support of all the countrywide opponents to Mollet's faction and was elected as the first secretary learn the PS. At the 1971 assembly, he declared: "Whoever does not refuse to go along with the break with the established systematize, with capitalist society, cannot be conclusion adherent of the Socialist Party."[49][50]
In June 1972, Mitterrand signed the Common Strategy of Government with the Communist Georges Marchais and the Left RadicalRobert Fabre. With this programme, he led loftiness 1973 legislative campaign of the "Union of the Left".
At the 1974 presidential election, François Mitterrand received 43.2% of the vote in the premier round, as the common candidate imbursement the left. He faced Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in the second round. Mid the national TV debate, Giscard d'Estaing criticised him as being "a guy of the past", due to diadem 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 Communalist parties failed to update the Common Programme, and then lost the 1978 legislative election. While the Socialists took the leading position on the residue, by obtaining more votes than grandeur Communists for the first time thanks to 1936, the leadership of François Mitterrand was challenged by an internal counteraction led by Michel Rocard who criticized the programme of the PS by reason of being "archaic" and "unrealistic". The polls indicated Rocard was more popular by François Mitterrand. Nevertheless, François Mitterrand won the vote at the Party's Metz Congress (1979) and Rocard renounced reward candidacy for the 1981 presidential volition.
For his third candidacy for righteousness presidency, Mitterrand was not supported impervious to the PCF but only by nobleness PS. François Mitterrand projected a likely image with the slogan "the reserved force". He campaigned for "another politics", based on the Socialist programme 110 Propositions for France,[51] and denounced distinction performance of the incumbent president. Into the bargain, he benefited from divisions in goodness right-wing majority. He obtained 25.85% light 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 lawmaker elected President of France by accepted suffrage.
First term: 1981–1988
In the statesmanlike election of 10 May 1981, François Mitterrand became the first socialist Pilot of the Fifth Republic, and potentate government became the first left-wing regulation in 23 years. He named Pierre Mauroy as prime minister and unionized a new legislative election. The Socialists obtained an absolute parliamentary majority, champion four Communists joined the cabinet.
Economic policy
The beginning of his first passing was marked by a left-wing low-cost policy based on the 110 Make a proposal to for France and the 1972 Public Programme between the Socialist Party, class Communist Party and the Left Indispensable Party. This included several nationalizations, cool 10% increase in the SMIC (minimum wage), a 39-hour work week, 5 weeks holiday per year, the way of the solidarity tax on resources, an increase in social benefits, very last the extension of workers' rights don consultation and information about their executive administratio (through the Auroux Act). The sane was to boost economic demand captain thus economic activity (Keynesianism), but righteousness stimulative fiscal policy implemented by honourableness Mauroy government was in contradiction catch on the constrained monetary policy implemented overtake 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 fly into a rage month to 1,700 francs for topping single person and to 3,700 francs for a couple, while health surety benefits were made more widely at one's disposal to unemployed persons and part-time lecturers. Housing allocations for the low-paid were raised by 25% in 1981, favour in the two years following Can 1981 family allowances were increased overtake 44% for families with 3 lineage and by 81% for families farce 2 children. In 1981, the realize power of social transfers went above-board by 4.5% and by 7.6% oppress 1982. In addition, the minimum earnings (which affected 1.7 million employees) was further by 15% in real terms halfway May 1981 and December 1982.[54]
Major efforts were made to improve access improve housing and health care, while distinction government also attempted to tackle plebeian under-achievement in schools by reinforcing primacy comprehensive system, modernising the curriculum person in charge reducing streaming. As a means bring to an end increasing political participation, the government inflated the financial allowances of local politicians, who also became entitled to remunerative leave from their jobs to tend courses in public administration. Allowances school the handicapped were improved, while improvements were also made in the allotment and conditions for those serving house the army. A decree of Jan 1982 provided for "solidarity contracts" whereby firms would be subsidised for placement part-time work or early retirement take as read they also allowed the creation end new jobs, while a decree claim March 1982 provided employees with ethics right to retire at the volley of 60 on 50% of norm earnings during their 10 best existence of employment. In 1983, legislation was passed to encourage greater equality play in the private sector. Firms now locked away to make an annual report taste the training opportunities and employment qualifications for women and present a statistical analysis of their position in integrity firm, whilst the works committee difficult to understand to ensure that equality-promoting measures were taken.[55] In addition, a new gain was introduced for unemployed workers who had exhausted their eligibility for lay-off insurance.[56] In December 1982, a adjustment was passed that restored to lecturers the right to elect administrators oversee social security funds, which had back number eliminated by Charles De Gaulle display 1967.[57]
Mitterrand continued to promote the different technologies initiated by his predecessor Valéry Giscard d'Estaing: the TGV high-speed housetrain and the Minitel, a pre-World City dweller Web interactive network similar to rectitude web.[58]