Twenty years after his death, François Mitterrand remains an enigma. Never before has a French politician generated so much contradictory comments, both during his lifetime and after his death. Beyond his political career, his complex and mysterious personality continues to fascinate. To lift a corner of the veil, Jean-Christophe and Gilbert Mitterrand and Mazarine Pingeot agreed to share some private memories of their father. By leafing through François Mitterrand's photographic albums, it is possible to reconstruct his personal journey, from his childhood years through to his life with Anne Pingeot and his daughter Mazarine.

François Mitterrand: Family Albums

In the summer of 1963, François Mitterrand was going through a deep existential crisis. His political career was at a standstill and, after 19 years of marriage, the couple had grown apart. It was at this point that François Mitterrand met the woman who was to give new meaning to his life. Anne Pingeot, aged 19, was to become the companion of a lifetime, a woman who would be with him throughout his rise to power and who would remain by his side until his last breath. For the first time, Anne Pingeot has agreed to allow the fragments of this passionate love story — hundreds of letters and a diary — to be shown on television, before being donated to the National Library.

François Mitterrand & Anne Pingeot: Pieces of a Love Story

On the occasion of the fourty years anniversary of François Mitterand's election, a look back to the relationship between the President and artists, from admiration to manipulation.

Mitterrand, président culturel

10 mai 1981, le jour du grand soir

Fourty years ago, in May 1981, with François Mitterrand's election, some people were letting themselves dream about a better life while others were predicting the coming of soviet tanks upon the Champs-Élysées. If we gladly remember the turning point of austerity in 83, there were also the wage rises, the fifth week of paid leave, the abolition of death penalty, the decriminalisation of homosexuality, or the advent of independent radio stations. Rare archives and accounts by those who were at the heart of this story give an overview of it and shed light on lesser-known aspects.