Mitterrand, François (1916–1996)

French socialist politician. After a successful ministerial career under the Fourth Republic, holding posts in 11 governments 1947–58, Mitterrand joined the new Parti Socialiste (PS; English Socialist Party) in 1971, establishing it as the most popular party in France before winning two successive terms as president, 1981–88 and 1988–95. From 1982 his administrations reverted from redistributive and reflationary policies to economic orthodoxy and maintenance of the ‘strong franc’ (linked to the Deutschmark), despite the high levels of unemployment this entailed, and vigorously pursued further European integration.

Mitterrand studied law and politics in Paris. During World War II he came to prominence in the resistance after initially working in Marshal Pétain's Vichy adminstration. In 1945 he was elected as deputy for Nièvre, as the member of a small centre-left Resistance-based party. Opposed to General Charles de Gaulle's creation of the Fifth Republic in 1958, he formed a Federation of the Left and as its candidate challenged de Gaulle unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1965. In 1971, as leader of the PS, he negotiated an electoral pact and Common Programme of Government with the Communist Party, 1972–77, but again failed to win the presidency in 1974, this time against Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. He was finally elected president in 1981.

His ambitious programme of social, economic and institutional reforms was hampered by deteriorating economic conditions after 1983. When the socialists lost their majority in March 1986, he was compelled to work with the Gaullist Jacques Chirac as prime minister, and grew in popularity, defeating Chirac's bid for the presidency in May 1988. In 1993 he entered a second term of ‘cohabitation’ with the conservative prime minister Edouard Balladur. Towards the end of his presidency his failing health weakened his hold on power. Whereas he was able to enhance his reputation when ‘cohabiting’ with Chirac, the successful elements of Balladur's premiership contrasted with Mitterrand's waning popularity and weakened influence.