François Mitterrand

He married Danielle Mitterrand in 1944 with whom he had three sons - Pascal, Jean-Christophe and Gilbert.

His daughter Mazarine Pingeot and a son Hravn Forsne were born from an extra marital affair he had with Anne Pingeot (his mistress) and Christina Forsne (Swedish Journalist) respectively.

During his retirement phase, he was defamed for his connections with Vichy collaborators, political vices and extra marital link ups.

François Mitterrand was born on October 26, 1916 in Jarnac, Charente, in a conservative Catholic family of Gilbert Felix Joseph and Marie Gabrielle Yvonne Lorrain.

He was baptized as François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand.

His father started as an agent of a railroad company , also worked as an engineer for la Compagnie Paris Orléans and went on to become the President of the trade unions of the vinegar manufacturers.

His education lasted for almost a decade from 1925 to 1934 in Saint-Paul College, Angouleme; during which he obtained membership of the student organization of Action Catholique called Jeunesse Etudiante Chrétienne (JEC).

In 1934, he shifted base to Paris for further education in law and politics from the University of Paris.

During 1937 to 1939, he was recruited in the colonial troops. Post his education he became the Sergeant-chief (infantry sergeant) in the Maginot line near Montmedy in September 1939.

Mitterrand served in the French Army during the World War II where he was also injured and taken in the German custody in the war camp in Kassel in June 1940.

While a prisoner, he became closely acquainted with a number of prisoners of wars coming from various social backgrounds.

After several efforts, he managed to escape from the war camp and landed in the region of the fascist French collaborationist Vichy government in December 1941 where he worked as an official with the Marshall Philippe Petain-run Vichy government to aid war prisoners.

He kept his association with the Nazi regime hidden from the public to avoid being seen as a collaborator.

His first term (1981-88) was marked by an economic policy that aimed to enhance economic activities such as nationalization, improved wages, hike in social benefits etc. Efforts were streamlined to improve housing and health care facilities and improved employment opportunities for women. The first decentralization law, the Defferre Act was passed by Mitterrand.

Social policies during his term aimed at the pensioners who obtained a right to full pension at the age of 60. Efforts were made for the elderly to ensure their stay at home instead of residential care houses.

The health care sector was also revamped through decentralization of hospital administration, improvement of research facilities and strengthening of worker’s right in the health sector.

Efforts to strengthen the education system were evident by the increase in the education budget. Various disciplines were made mandatory such as civics, French history, technical education etc.

Death penalty was abolished via the Badinter Act. Strict rules for legal and police investigations were introduced.