1981 French presidential election facts for kids
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Results of the second round: the candidate with the plurality of votes in each administrative division. François Mitterrand Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
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The French presidential election of 1981 was a big event in France. It happened on May 10, 1981. This election was special because it chose François Mitterrand as the new President. He was the first Socialist president of the Fifth Republic.
Contents
What is a Presidential Election?
A presidential election is how people choose their country's leader, called the president. In France, the president is a very important person. They lead the government and represent the country.
How French Elections Work
French presidential elections usually have two rounds of voting.
- First Round: Many candidates run. People vote for their favorite. If someone gets more than half the votes, they win right away.
- Second Round: If no one wins in the first round, the top two candidates go to a second round. People then choose between these two. The one with the most votes wins!
The Candidates in 1981
In 1981, there were two main candidates in the second round:
- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing: He was the president before this election. He belonged to a party called the Union for French Democracy.
- François Mitterrand: He was the challenger from the Socialist Party. He had run for president before.
The Election Results
The election was very close, but François Mitterrand won.
- He received about 15.7 million votes.
- This was 51.8% of all the votes.
- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing received about 14.6 million votes, which was 48.2%.
This victory was a big change for France. It meant that a Socialist president would lead the country for the first time in the Fifth Republic.
What Happened Next?
After winning, François Mitterrand became the President of France. He served for many years, making important changes in the country. His election showed that French people were ready for new ideas and leadership.
See also
