François Mitterrand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids François Mitterrand
Mitterrand in 1983
President of France
In office 21 May 1981 – 17 May 1995
Prime Minister	Pierre Mauroy Laurent Fabius Jacques Chirac Michel Rocard Édith Cresson Pierre Bérégovoy Édouard Balladur
Preceded by	Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Succeeded by	Jacques Chirac
Party political offices First Secretary of the Socialist Party In office 16 June 1971 – 24 January 1981 Preceded by Alain Savary Succeeded by Lionel Jospin President of the Federation of the Democratic and Socialist Left In office 10 December 1965 – 7 November 1968 Preceded by Party established Succeeded by Party abolished
Political offices President of the General Council of Nièvre In office 20 March 1964 – 15 May 1981 Preceded by Arsène Célestin-Fié [fr] Succeeded by Noël Berrier [fr] Mayor of Château-Chinon In office 20 March 1959 – 15 May 1981 Preceded by Robert Mantin [fr] Succeeded by René-Pierre Signé
Ministerial offices Minister of Justice In office 31 January 1956 – 12 June 1957 Prime Minister Guy Mollet Preceded by Robert Schuman Succeeded by Édouard Corniglion-Molinier Minister of the Interior In office 19 June 1954 – 23 February 1955 Prime Minister Pierre Mendès France Preceded by Léon Martinaud-Déplat Succeeded by Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury Minister delegate to the Council of Europe In office 28 June 1953 – 4 September 1953 Prime Minister Joseph Laniel Preceded by Pierre Pflimlin Succeeded by Edgar Faure Minister of Overseas France In office 12 July 1950 – 15 August 1951 Prime Minister René Pleven Henri Queuille Preceded by Paul Coste-Floret Succeeded by Louis Jacquinot Minister of Veterans and War Victims In office 24 November 1947 – 19 July 1948 Prime Minister Robert Schuman Preceded by Daniel Mayer Succeeded by André Maroselli [fr] In office 22 January 1947 – 21 October 1947 Prime Minister Paul Ramadier Preceded by Max Lejeune [fr] Succeeded by Daniel Mayer
Parliamentary offices Member of the National Assembly for Nièvre's 3rd constituency In office 6 December 1962 – 21 May 1981 Preceded by Jehan Faulquier [fr] Succeeded by Bernard Bardin Senator for Nièvre In office 26 April 1959 – 13 December 1962 Preceded by Jean Doussot [fr] Succeeded by Daniel Benoist [fr] Member of the National Assembly for Nièvre In office 10 November 1946 – 8 December 1958 Preceded by Roger Gillot [fr] Succeeded by Jehan Faulquier
Personal details
Born	François Marie Adrien Maurice Mitterrand (1916-10-26)26 October 1916 Jarnac, France
Died	8 January 1996(1996-01-08) (aged 79) Paris, France
Resting place	Cimetière des Grands-Maisons, Jarnac
Political party	Socialist (from 1971)
Other political affiliations	Cross of Fire (before 1936) Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance (1945–1964) Convention of Republican Institutions (1964–1971)
Spouse	Danielle Gouze ​ (m. 1944)​
Children	4, including Jean-Christophe and Mazarine
Relatives	Frédéric Mitterrand (nephew)
Alma mater	University of Paris Sciences Po
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	French Third Republic
Branch/service	French Army
Years of service	1937–1939 1939–1941

François Mitterrand (born October 26, 1916 – died January 8, 1996) was the President of France for 14 years, from 1981 to 1995. This makes him the longest-serving president in French history. He was the first left-wing politician to become president under France's current system, the Fifth Republic.

Mitterrand started his political life with more conservative views. He even worked for the Vichy government during the early part of World War II. However, he later joined the French Resistance and moved towards left-wing politics. He served as a government minister many times before becoming president.

He was elected president in 1981 and again in 1988. During his time, he brought in many changes, like ending the death penalty. He also worked closely with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to strengthen European integration. Mitterrand was a big supporter of culture and started many large building projects in France. He was also the first French President to appoint a female Prime Minister, Édith Cresson, in 1991.

Early Life and World War II

Mitterrand in 1933

François Mitterrand was born in Jarnac, France, on October 26, 1916. His family was very religious and traditional. His father was an engineer. François had three brothers and four sisters.

He studied in Angoulême and later in Paris. For a short time, he was involved with a far-right group called the Volontaires nationaux. However, his friendship with a Jewish socialist friend, Georges Dayan, made him question some of his early nationalist ideas.

World War II Experiences

Mitterrand's actions during World War II have been discussed a lot. He was a sergeant in the army and was captured by German forces in June 1940. He was held as a Prisoner of War (POW) in Germany. He tried to escape twice before finally succeeding in December 1941.

After escaping, he returned to France. He got a job with the Vichy government, which was the French government that worked with Nazi Germany. He worked to help French POWs. During this time, he also secretly began working with the French Resistance.

Mitterrand (right) with Philippe Pétain on October 15, 1942

From 1942, Mitterrand became more involved with the Resistance. He helped create a network that mainly consisted of former POWs. This group helped provide false papers and gathered information for the Free French Forces. He used several code names, like "Morland."

In November 1943, Mitterrand had to escape to London after a raid by German secret police. He met with Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French, but they had some disagreements. Eventually, Mitterrand's Resistance group merged with others, and he became its leader.

He returned to France and took part in the Liberation of Paris in August 1944. After the war, he helped with the liberation of concentration camps like Dachau.

Rise to Power in France

After World War II, François Mitterrand quickly re-entered politics. He became a member of the National Assembly in 1946. He held many different government positions, serving as a minister in eleven different roles. He was also the mayor of Château-Chinon for many years.

In 1958, he strongly opposed Charles de Gaulle's plan to create the Fifth Republic. Mitterrand believed de Gaulle's plan gave too much power to the president. This opposition led to him losing his seat in the National Assembly for a short time.

Challenging De Gaulle

Mitterrand in Toulouse on December 17, 1965, during his 1965 presidential campaign

Mitterrand returned to the National Assembly in 1962. He pushed for left-wing parties, including the Communist Party, to work together against de Gaulle. In 1965, he ran for president against de Gaulle. Many people expected de Gaulle to win easily, but Mitterrand surprised everyone by getting 31.7% of the vote in the first round, forcing a second round. He lost the election but gained a lot of respect.

He then led a group of center-left parties called the Federation of the Democratic and Socialist Left. In 1968, after major protests in France, Mitterrand announced he would run for president if a new election was held. However, de Gaulle dissolved the Assembly instead, and Mitterrand's party suffered a big loss in the next election.

Leading the Socialist Party

After this defeat, Mitterrand turned his attention to the Socialist Party (PS). In 1971, he became the party's First Secretary (leader). He believed that an alliance with the Communist Party was essential for the left to win power.

In 1972, he signed a "Common Programme of Government" with the Communists. He ran for president again in 1974, as the left's candidate. He narrowly lost to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, getting 49.19% of the vote.

Mitterrand faced challenges within his own party, but he remained its leader. For his third presidential campaign in 1981, he focused on a calm and reassuring image. He promised "another politics" based on the Socialist program. He won the election with 51.76% of the vote, becoming the first left-wing president elected by the people in the Fifth Republic.

Mitterrand's Time as President (1981-1995)

Mitterrand with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, 1984

When François Mitterrand became president in 1981, he appointed Pierre Mauroy as Prime Minister. The Socialist Party won a majority in parliament, and some Communists joined the government.

Big Changes in France

His first years as president brought many changes:

• Economic policies: The government increased the minimum wage, shortened the work week to 39 hours, and gave workers 5 weeks of holiday per year. They also increased social benefits and nationalized some key companies.
• Social reforms: Mitterrand famously abolished the death penalty. He also made homosexuality legal and gave more rights to workers. Rules for police stops and arrests were made stricter.
• Cultural projects: He supported many large building projects, known as the "Grands Projets." These included the Louvre Pyramid, the Channel Tunnel, the Grande Arche at La Défense, and the Bastille Opera. He also opened up the media, allowing private radio and TV stations.

After two years, France faced economic challenges. Mitterrand's government shifted to a more cautious economic approach, focusing on controlling inflation.

Working with Other Parties

In 1986, Mitterrand's party lost the parliamentary election. This meant he had to appoint a Prime Minister from the opposing party, Jacques Chirac. This situation, where the president and prime minister are from different political sides, is called "Cohabitation." During this time, Mitterrand focused on foreign policy, while Chirac handled domestic issues.

Mitterrand was re-elected in 1988, becoming the first president to win two terms by popular vote. He then appointed Michel Rocard as Prime Minister. In 1991, he appointed Édith Cresson, who became the first female Prime Minister of France.

However, the Socialist Party faced difficulties and lost the 1993 election. This led to a second "cohabitation" with Edouard Balladur as Prime Minister.

France's Role in the World

Mitterrand continued France's strong role in international affairs. He supported closer European cooperation and worked closely with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to create the Maastricht Treaty. This treaty was a big step towards a more unified Europe.

He also addressed France's relationship with its former colonies in Africa. In 1990, he gave a speech in La Baule, linking development aid to democratic efforts in these countries.

Later Life and Legacy

François Mitterrand's second term ended in May 1995. He died in Paris on January 8, 1996, at the age of 79, from prostate cancer. His funeral was a national day of mourning, attended by many world leaders.

Mitterrand's presidency changed French politics. He made the French Left a strong political force and saw the Socialist Party become very important. He also oversaw many social and cultural changes that still affect France today.

Prime Ministers During Presidency

Mitterrand had the most prime ministers during the Fifth Republic.

Political Career Highlights

François Mitterrand held many important positions throughout his career:

• President of the French Republic: 1981–1995 (re-elected in 1988).
• Government Minister: He served in various ministerial roles from 1947 to 1957, including Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior.
• Member of Parliament: He was a member of the National Assembly for Nièvre from 1946–1958 and 1962–1981. He was also a Senator for Nièvre from 1959–1962.
• Local Government: He was the President of the General Council of Nièvre from 1964–1981 and Mayor of Château-Chinon from 1959–1981.
• Party Leader: He was the First Secretary (leader) of the Socialist Party from 1971–1981.

Honours

Mitterrand received many awards and honours from France and other countries.

France

• Grand Master of the Legion of Honour
• Grand Master of the Ordre national du Mérite

Foreign Honours

He received top honours from many nations, including:

•  Mexico: Grand Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (1981)
•  Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant (1982)
•  Spain: Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1982)
•  Japan: Grand Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (1982)
•  Germany: Grand Cross, Special Class of the Order of Merit (1983)
•  United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1984)
•  Sweden: Knight of the Royal Order of Seraphim (1984)
•  Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (1991)
•  Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic (1993)

Images for kids

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  François Mitterrand's signature

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  Mitterrand in 1959

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  Mitterrand on October 16, 1959

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  Mitterrand in Strasbourg on May 5, 1979

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  Mitterrand as War Veterans Minister in February 1947

See also

In Spanish: François Mitterrand para niños