About
François Mitterrand (1916-1996) was a French statesman. Born in Jarnac, he was a deputy and minister under the Fourth Republic, then first secretary of the Socialist Party from 1971. Elected President of the Republic in 1981, he was re-elected in 1988, becoming the longest-serving president. He abolished the death penalty, launched the Grands Travaux, and worked for European integration, notably through the Maastricht Treaty. He died in 1996.
* 1916-10-26 — † 1996-01-08
Major works
- La Rose au poing (1973)political essay
- La Paille et le grain (1975)essay
- L'Abeille et l'architecte (1978)essay
Key milestones
- 1981Elected President of the Republic, he abolished the death penalty.
- 1992Co-architect of the Maastricht Treaty with Helmut Kohl.
- 1995Leaves the presidency after two full terms.
Themes
European integrationSocial justiceCulture and architectureDecentralizationAbolition of the death penalty
Sources: elysee.fr · britannica.com