François Mitterrand (1916-1996), president of France from 1981 to 1995. Born at Jarnac, François Maurice Mitterrand studied law, literature, and political science at the University of Paris. He served in the French army during World War II (1939-1945) and was active in the Resistance during the German occupation of France. He was elected to the National Assembly in 1946 and later served as minister for overseas territories from 1950 to 1951, minister of the interior from 1954 to 1955, and minister of state for justice from 1956 to 1957. In 1965 he ran unsuccessfully for the presidency against Charles de Gaulle as the candidate of the non-Communist left, and in 1971 he emerged as the leader of a new Socialist party. With Communist support, he ran against President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in 1974, losing by a narrow margin. In 1981 Mitterrand again challenged Giscard, winning a decisive victory and becoming the first Socialist president of the Fifth Republic. Mitterrand appointed Communists to some minor posts in his government because he thought their inclusion would decrease their opposition to government policies. Domestically, he worked to nationalize banks and major industries, including chemicals, electronics, and steel. He also tried to decentralize the government by giving more powers to local and regional offices. He enacted social reforms to benefit the working class, increasing the minimum wage and adding an additional week of paid vacation. He also granted residency rights to many illegal immigrants. By 1982 France faced economic problems with rising inflation and unemployment. In response, Mitterrand reversed many of his policies, adopting a more conservative approach. Austerity measures were adopted in June 1982 and March 1983 including wage freezes, increased charges for health services, and cuts in public expenses.

In the 1986 parliamentary elections, the Socialists lost their majority in the Assembly, and Mitterrand faced a parliament that was controlled by the conservatives. This was the first time in the history of the Fifth Republic that the president's party did not have a majority in the Assembly. Mitterrand arranged to share power with the new conservative prime minister, Jacques Rene Chirac. Allowing the prime minister to handle domestic matters, Mitterrand focused on international affairs on which he and Chirac mostly agreed. In the 1988 presidential election, Mitterrand defeated Chirac and several other challengers. Mitterrand worked to strengthen France's position in the European Union and internationally. In May 1991 he appointed the first woman prime minister, Edith Cresson. However, she was highly controversial, and in April 1992 she was replaced by Pierre Beregovoy. Although France continued to be plagued by high unemployment, Mitterrand did not participate in the resulting political infighting. Suffering from cancer, Mitterrand did not run for reelection in 1995. He died on January 8, 1996, at age 79.