François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was a French statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995. As the longest-serving president in French history, he was the first figure from the left-wing to be elected president under the Fifth Republic. His presidency was marked by significant social and economic reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty, the decentralization of government, and the implementation of the 39-hour workweek. Mitterrand also played a key role in European integration, notably through his strong Franco-German partnership and his support for the Maastricht Treaty, which established the European Union.