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Danielle Mitterrand, wife of former French president, dies aged 87

Danielle Mitterrand, the widow of the former French president, François Mitterrand, died on Tuesday morning in a Paris hospital at the age of 87.

Reuters/Franck Prevel/Files
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She was being treated for respiratory problems and anaemia.

Three roses – two red, one white, have been attached to the door of her Paris apartment block, and several public figures have already paid tribute to a woman who dedicated her life to left- wing politics and human rights.

The leader of France’s Socialist Party, Martine Aubry declared that “Danielle Mitterrand had the strength, the nobility and the generosity of those people we feel are immortal”.

And President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed a woman who was determined to “make heard the voices of the people no one wanted to hear”

A communiqué from the President’s office also noted “she displayed an independence of spirit, a will and an exceptional dignity”.

Danielle Gouze married François Mitterand in 1944, after meeting him through their involvement in the French Resistance.

When he became president of France in 1981, she made it clear that she had no intention of playing a passive role, but would try to use her position to help the most downtrodden.

She set up a foundation called France Libertés – Danielle Mitterrand, which channelled money and expertise especially into projects concerning access to water resources.

And she frequently caused embarrassment to her husband with her support for leaders such as Fidel Castro, which was out of line with official French foreign policy.

Many applauded her dignity when she put her arms around Mazarine, daughter of François Mitterrand and his mistress Anne Pingeot, at the former President’s funeral in 1996.

A life in dates

1924 - Danielle Gouze born in Verdun to parents active in the French Resistance

1941 - Danielle joins French Resistance

1944 – Introduced to François Morland, François Mitterrand’s codename in the Resistance

1944 – Marries François Mitterrand in October

1981 – François Mitterrand elected President

1986 – Danielle creates La Fondation France-Libertés, non-governmental humanitarian organisation.

1986 – Criticises Mitterrand’s centre-right Prime Minister Jacques Chirac, saying “he doesn’t know what he’s doing”.

1993 – Criticises right-wing Interior Minister, Charles Pasqua’s immigration policy

1996 – Embraces Fidel Castro

1996 – Françios Mitterrand dies. She hugs his daughter Mazarine at the funeral.

2005 - Opposes treaty on EU constitution, despite Mitterrand’s very pro-EU politics.

 

 

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