Socialist leader who went from minor Vichy official to Resistance and became the first left-wing president of the Fifth Republic
Born in Jarnac in 1916, he studied law and in 1934–1936 was active in the youth organisation of the Croix-de-Feu. Captured in 1940, he escaped and in 1942 worked on prisoner-of-war affairs for the Vichy government, receiving the Francisque, but in 1943 he broke with Vichy and led a Resistance network of former prisoners of war. He was minister eleven times under the Fourth Republic and, as justice minister, took part in confirming death sentences of Algerian nationalists. Elected first secretary of the Socialist Party in 1971, he signed the Common Programme with the Communists, and as president from 1981 he carried out nationalisations and abolished the death penalty before turning to austerity in 1983. Re-elected in 1988, he served until 1995.
Activities and affiliations
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1934–1936
Social movements and organizing
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1942–1943
France state institutionsContract official for prisoner-of-war affairs, Vichy government
Government and administration -
1946–1981
Legislature and state representation
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1947–1995
France state institutionsMinister, President of the RepublicHeads of state and government of FranceMain
Government and administration
Career Timeline
- 1942.01–1943.01Contract official for prisoner-of-war affairs under Vichy
- 1946–1958Deputy for the Nièvre
- 1947.01–1957Minister under the Fourth Republic (veterans, overseas territories, interior, justice and others)
- 1959–1962Senator
- 1962–1981Deputy for the Nièvre
- 1971–1981First Secretary of the Socialist Party
- 1981.05.21–1995.05.17President of the Republic