Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was president of France from 1974 to 1981. He promoted European integration and pursued social and economic reforms at home.

European Council: The institution where leaders of European Union member states set shared political priorities. Giscard d'Estaing helped establish regular summits of national leaders that became the European Council.
Raymond Barre: A French economist and politician who served as prime minister from 1976 to 1981. Giscard d'Estaing appointed Barre to lead the government's response to inflation and unemployment.
President of France: The elected head of state of the French Republic, with powers defined by the constitution. This office gave Giscard d'Estaing authority over national policy and foreign affairs.
Gaullism: A French political tradition centered on national independence, a strong state, and a powerful presidency. Giscard d'Estaing challenged Gaullist dominance while retaining the Fifth Republic's strong executive.
European Monetary System: A framework launched in 1979 to limit exchange-rate fluctuations among participating European currencies. He backed this step toward monetary cooperation during his presidency.
Jacques Chirac: A French politician who served as prime minister and later president of France. Chirac was his first prime minister, then resigned amid a widening political rift.
French Fifth Republic: France's constitutional republic established in 1958, with a strong presidency and parliamentary government. Its institutions shaped the powers and political limits of his presidency.
French Socialist Party: A major French political party that advocates democratic socialism and social democracy. Its growing strength under Mitterrand provided the main electoral challenge to Giscard d'Estaing.
Direct election of the European Parliament: The system, begun in 1979, by which voters directly elect members of the European Parliament. The first direct elections took place during his presidency, strengthening the parliament's democratic standing.
François Mitterrand: A French Socialist politician who served as president from 1981 to 1995. Mitterrand defeated Giscard d'Estaing in 1981 and represented the left's return to power.

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