Original: Mitterrand's presidency and the exercise of power (1981-1995) In 1981 Mitterrand defeated the incumbent conservative, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, to become the first socialist of the Fifth Republic to be elected President of France by universal suffrage.
Simplified: Mitterrand's presidency and the practice of power (1981-1995) In 1981 Mitterrand defeated the conservative, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, to become the first socialist elected President of France by universal suffrage.