1981 French presidential election facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
1981 French presidential election

26 April 1981 (first round) 10 May 1981 (second round)

Candidate François Mitterrand Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Party Socialist Party (France) Union for French Democracy Popular vote 15,708,262 14,642,306 Percentage 51.8% 48.2%

Results of the second round: the candidate with the plurality of votes in each administrative division.      François Mitterrand     Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

President before election Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Union for French Democracy Elected President François Mitterrand Socialist Party (France)

The French presidential election of 1981 took place on 10 May 1981, giving the presidency of France to François Mitterrand, the first Socialist president of the Fifth Republic.