A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe, First Edition
François Mitterrand was a French statesman and, in 1981–95, socialist President of France. Born on 26 October 1916 in Jarnac, Mitterrand was a soldier and prisoner of war during the Second World War. He escaped from captivity to Vichy France, where he first worked as a clerk for the government, and subsequently, in 1943, following occupation, formed a resistance group. Mitterrand was elected to the Assemblée Nationale in 1946 and served as Minister for French Overseas Territories in 1946–53, as Minister for the Interior in 1954–55 and as garde des sceaux (Keeper of the Seals) in 1956. He then left government, opposing its policies in Algeria and the new Fifth Republic founded in 1958. Following the constitutional amendment in 1962 that introduced a directly elected presidency, Mitterrand contested that office as the left-wing candidate in 1965 and 1974.
He was elected as President in 1981 and was re-elected in 1988.
As President, Mitterrand first shifted policy to the left with a programme of nationalization, government spending and higher taxation, in 1981–83. His 14 years in office were also marked by social and institutional reforms to, for example, strengthen regional government and abolish the death penalty. During periods of cohabitation with right-wing governments in 1986–88 and 1993–95 Mitterrand ensured a sound separation of powers. He worked on the international stage to improve relations with Germany and to promote European integration, and at home he initiated a number of architectural projects in Paris. Towards the end of his second term of office, which ended in May 1995, Mitterrand suffered from prostate cancer. He died on 8 January 1996 in Paris. François Mitterrand was married to Danielle Mitterrand, with whom he had two sons. He also had a daughter with Anne Pingeot.
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