François Mitterrand

François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (October 26, 1916 – January 8, 1996; {{audio|Fr-François_Mitterrand.ogg|pronunciation}}) was a French politician. He was elected President of France in May 1981, re-elected in 1988 and held office until 1995.

Scandals and controversies of Mitterrand's presidency and death

Following his death, a controversy erupted when his former physician, Dr Claude Gubler, wrote a book called Le Grand Secret ("The Great Secret") explaining that Mitterrand had had false health reports published since November 1981, hiding his cancer. Mitterrand's family then prosecuted Gubler and his publisher for violating medical secrecy.

Related Topics:
Physician - 1981

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Mitterrand, a married man, had numerous affairs, among which one with Anne Pingeot, out of which a daughter, Mazarine, was born. Mitterrand sought secrecy on that issue, which lasted until November 1994, when Mitterrand's failing health and impending retirement meant he could no longer count on the fear and respect he had once engendered among French journalists. Also, Mazarine, a college student, had reached an age where she could no longer be protected as a minor.

Related Topics:
Anne Pingeot - 1994

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From 1982 to 1986, Mitterrand established an "anti-terror cell" installed as a service of the president of the republic. This was a fairly unusual setup, since such law enforcement missions against terrorism are normally left to the French National Police and French Gendarmerie, run under the cabinet and the Prime Minister, and under the supervision of the judiciary. The cell was largely made from members of these services, but it bypassed the normal line of command and safeguards.

Related Topics:
1982 - 1986 - Terrorism - French National Police - French Gendarmerie

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Most markedly, it appears that the cell, under illegal presidential orders, obtained wiretaps on journalists, politicians and other personalities who may have been an impediment for Mitterrand's personal affairs, especially those who may have revealed the situation of Mazarine and her mother. The illegal wiretapping was revealed in 1993 by Libération; the case against members of the cells went to trial in November 2004. http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3224,36-387334,0.html http://www.netscape.qc.ca/article/?cat=Monde&article=M111351AU&ch=a

Related Topics:
Wiretap - Journalist - Politician - 1993 - Libération

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Admiral Pierre Lacoste, the former head of the DGSE spy agency in France, confirmed in July 2005 that Mitterrand had personally authorized the bombing of a Greenpeace boat, the Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland harbour, New Zealand, on July 10, 1985. The vessel was preparing to protest against French nuclear testing in the South Pacific when the explosion sank the ship, killing photographer Fernando Pereira. The New Zealand government called the bombing the country's first terror attack. http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3226,36-671207@51-671291,0.html

Related Topics:
DGSE - The bombing of - Greenpeace - Rainbow Warrior - Auckland - New Zealand - July 10 - 1985 - Nuclear testing - South Pacific - Fernando Pereira

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