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 .