1916- . French socialist politician,
president from 1981. He held ministerial
posts in 11 governments 1947-1958. He founded
the French Socialist Party (PS) 1971. In 1985
he introduced proportional representation,
allegedly to weaken the growing opposition
from left and right. Mitterrand studied law
and politics in Paris. During World War II he
was prominent in the Resistance. He entered
the National Assembly as a centre-left deputy
for Nievre. Opposed to Gen de Gaulle's
creation of the Fifth Republic 1958, he
formed the centre-left anti-Gaullist
Federation of the Left in the 1960s. In 1971
he became leader of the new PS. An electoral
union with the Communist Party 1972-77
established the PS as the most popular party
in France. Mitterrand was elected president
1981. His programme of reform was hampered by
deteriorating economic conditions after 1983.
When the socialists lost their majority Mar
1986, he was compelled to work with a
right-wing prime minister, Jacques Chirac,
and grew in popularity. He defeated Chirac to
secure a second term in the presidential
election May 1988.