François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand

François Mitterrand

Born: October 26, 1916 - Died: January 8, 1996 (79 years)
Jarnac, Charente, France

François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 1916 – 8 January 1996) was a French politician and statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, the longest holder of that position in the history of France. As a former Socialist Party First Secretary, he was the first left-wing politician to assume the presidency under the Fifth Republic. Due to family influences, Mitterrand started his political life on the Catholic nationalist right. He served under the Vichy regime during its earlier years. Subsequently, he joined the Resistance, moved to the left, and held ministerial office several times under the Fourth Republic. Mitterrand opposed Charles de Gaulle's establishment of the Fifth Republic. Although at times a politically isolated figure, he outmanoeuvred rivals to become the left's standard bearer in the 1965 and 1974 presidential elections, before being elected president in the 1981 presidential election. He was re-elected in 1988 and remained in office until 1995. Mitterrand invited the Communist Party into his first government, which was a controversial decision at the time. However, the Communists were boxed in as junior partners and, rather than taking advantage, saw their support eroded, eventually leaving the cabinet in 1984. Early in his first term, Mitterrand followed a radical left-wing economic agenda, including nationalisation of key firms and the introduction of the 39-hour work week. He likewise pushed a progressive agenda with reforms such as the abolition of the death penalty, and the end of a government monopoly in radio and television broadcasting. He was also a strong promoter of French culture and implemented a range of "Grands Projets". However, faced with economic tensions, he soon abandoned his nationalization programme, in favour of austerity and market liberalization policies. In 1985, he was faced with a major controversy after ordering the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, a Greenpeace vessel docked in Auckland. Later in 1991, he became the first French President to appoint a female prime minister, Édith Cresson. During his presidency, Mitterrand was twice forced by the loss of a parliamentary majority into "cohabitation governments" with conservative cabinets led, respectively, by Jacques Chirac (1986–1988), and Édouard Balladur (1993–1995). Mitterrand’s foreign and defence policies built on those of his Gaullist predecessors, except in regard to their reluctance to support European integration, which he reversed. His partnership with German chancellor Helmut Kohl advanced European integration via the Maastricht Treaty, and he accepted German reunification. Less than eight months after leaving office, he died from the prostate cancer he had successfully concealed for most of his presidency. Beyond making the French Left electable, Mitterrand presided over the rise of the Socialist Party to dominance of the left, and the decline of the once-dominant Communist Party. ... Source: Article "François Mitterrand" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Movies as Actor (48)
La banlieue, c’est le paradis

La banlieue, c’est le paradis

as Self (archive footage)

Feb 13, 2025

The Revenge of Bernadette Chirac

The Revenge of Bernadette Chirac

as Self (archive footage)

Oct 8, 2023

North Korea: A Plan to Survive

North Korea: A Plan to Survive

as Self (archive footage)

Jul 1, 2023

La Malédiction de la Grande Arche

La Malédiction de la Grande Arche

as Self (archive) - President of the French Republic (1981-1995)

Jan 1, 2023

TGV, génie français du rail

TGV, génie français du rail

as Self (archive footage)

Nov 28, 2022

Cent jours

Cent jours

as Self

May 3, 2022

De Charles de Gaulle à Emmanuel Macron, les gardiens de l'empire

De Charles de Gaulle à Emmanuel Macron, les gardiens de l'empire

as Self (archive footage)

Mar 9, 2022

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

as Self (archive footage)

Jan 7, 2022

François Mitterrand & Anne Pingeot: Pieces of a Love Story

François Mitterrand & Anne Pingeot: Pieces of a Love Story

as Self (archive footage)

May 16, 2021

Mitterrand, président culturel

Mitterrand, président culturel

as Self (archive footage)

May 12, 2021

10 mai 1981 : Changer la vie ?

10 mai 1981 : Changer la vie ?

as Self (archive footage)

May 11, 2021

Mitterrand et la télé

Mitterrand et la télé

as Self (archive footage)

May 11, 2021

10 mai 1981, le jour du grand soir

10 mai 1981, le jour du grand soir

as Self (archive footage)

May 10, 2021

Congrès de Tours 1920: The Birth of the French Communist Party

Congrès de Tours 1920: The Birth of the French Communist Party

as Self (archive footage)

Dec 12, 2020

Entretien politique : Histoire et mode d'emploi

Entretien politique : Histoire et mode d'emploi

as Self (archive footage)

Jul 13, 2020

Laboratory Greece

Laboratory Greece

as Self (archive footage)

Dec 8, 2019

1974, l'alternance Giscard

1974, l'alternance Giscard

as Self (archive footage)

Oct 5, 2019

Un peu, beaucoup, passionnément... Les Présidents et les Français

Un peu, beaucoup, passionnément... Les Présidents et les Français

as Self (archive footage)

Oct 2, 2019

Danielle Mitterrand, une certaine idée de la France

Danielle Mitterrand, une certaine idée de la France

as Self (archive footage)

Mar 9, 2019

1958: Those Who Said No

1958: Those Who Said No

as Self (archive footage)

Oct 6, 2018

Ziva Postec: The Editor Behind the Film Shoah

Ziva Postec: The Editor Behind the Film Shoah

as Self (archive footage)

Jul 29, 2018

Gare du Nord : La Plus Grande Gare d'Europe

Gare du Nord : La Plus Grande Gare d'Europe

as Self (archive footage)

Jul 17, 2018

Roland Dumas, le mauvais garçon de la république

Roland Dumas, le mauvais garçon de la république

as self

Apr 12, 2018

The Incredible Mr. Piccoli

The Incredible Mr. Piccoli

as Self - Politician (archive footage)

May 28, 2017

François Mitterrand : Bâtisseur de mystères

François Mitterrand : Bâtisseur de mystères

as Self (archive footage)

Apr 4, 2017

De Gaulle, the Last King of France

De Gaulle, the Last King of France

as Self (archive footage)

Mar 27, 2017

Mr & Mme Adelman

Mr & Mme Adelman

as Self (archive footage)

Mar 8, 2017

Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne

Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne

as Self (archive footage)

Mar 13, 2016

Mitterrand, the impossible legacy

Mitterrand, the impossible legacy

as Self (archive footage)

Jan 16, 2016

François Mitterrand, la maladie au secret

François Mitterrand, la maladie au secret

as Self (archive footage)

Dec 15, 2015

Les vendredis d'Apostrophes

Les vendredis d'Apostrophes

as Self (archive footage)

Nov 6, 2015

Laissez-faire

Laissez-faire

as Self (archive footage)

Jan 30, 2015

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles

as Self - Politician (archive footage)

Dec 12, 2014

Un mort à L'Elysée: François de Grossouvre

Un mort à L'Elysée: François de Grossouvre

as Self (archive footage)

Feb 11, 2013

De Gaulle, le géant aux pieds d'argile

De Gaulle, le géant aux pieds d'argile

as Self (archive footage)

Jun 12, 2012

Owners of Portugal

Owners of Portugal

as Self - President of France (archive footage)

Apr 25, 2012

François Mitterrand, à bout portant : 1993-1996

François Mitterrand, à bout portant : 1993-1996

as Self (archive footage)

May 10, 2011

François Mitterrand et la guerre d'Algérie

François Mitterrand et la guerre d'Algérie

as Self (archive footage)

Nov 1, 2010

L'Amour Fou

L'Amour Fou

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Sep 22, 2010

1974, une partie de campagne

1974, une partie de campagne

as Self

Feb 20, 2002

Who Is Bernard Tapie?

Who Is Bernard Tapie?

as Self

Sep 8, 2001

Cérémonie d'ouverture des 16èmes Jeux Olympiques d'hiver à Albertville

Cérémonie d'ouverture des 16èmes Jeux Olympiques d'hiver à Albertville

as Self

Feb 8, 1992

Promesses

Promesses

as Self (archive footage)

Jan 1, 1992

Écoutez La Bourse Du Travail De Paris

Écoutez La Bourse Du Travail De Paris

as Self (archive footage)

Jan 1, 1982

Reporters

Reporters

as self

Jun 10, 1981

Dreyfus: The Intolerable Truth

Dreyfus: The Intolerable Truth

as Self

Feb 5, 1975

The Society of the Spectacle

The Society of the Spectacle

as Self (archive footage)

May 1, 1974

Statues Also Die

Statues Also Die

as Self (archive footage)

May 1, 1953