Francois Mitterand: touches on the portrait

On October 26, 2016 is the 100the anniversary of François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand. He was the head of the French State for fourteen years. His name is directly related to the experience of social and reformist (in its ideological profile) political party in the context of genuine democracy, mature constitutional state with deep traditions in civil society and a well-established market economy. Mitterrand was an example of a party leader who managed to turn his party into the most influential one in that left of the centre part of political spectrum. Mitterrand’s era identified the possibilities and boundaries of power-sharing by a socialist president and government head representing the right part of political spectrum. For the first time in Post-Soviet historical science the author attempts to carry out a systemic reconstruction of this politician’s and statesman’s life and activity. The author is undoubtedly aware of divergent assessments of Mitterrand’s personality made by politicians and historical experts. In the writing of this paper the intention was to make balanced assessments of all stages in François Mitterrand’s political biography.