support. So Mitterrand created a new wing of the party solely devoted to workers' issues. Having assimilated small, left-wing parties into the Socialist Party, increased party membership and at least attempted to endear the party to the trade union movement, he significantly expanded the party electorally.
When Mitterrand stood for the presidency in 1974, he lost by only a whisker, and the Socialist Party managed to obtain 22 percent of the seats in the National Assembly. These impressive results helped consolidate Mitterrand's leadership of the party. His managerial skills impressed even his opponents. His intellectual and competent style endeared him to the French people, who in the late 1970's had begun to grow weary of President D'Estaing's monarchal and somewhat arrogant leadership style. Mitterrand set about spreading the influence of the party by increasing grass-roots activism within the party and by strengthening ties with groups and organizations in the country which were sympathetic to the Socialist Party. He encouraged the expansion of the Jeunesse Socialiste and Les Etudiants Socialistes by allowing them to operate as organs within the party structure.
Second, Mitterrand worked to increase the power of the Socialists within the French local government system. He wanted his skilled and efficient management abilities to be passed on to the local government structure. In this area, Mitterrand achieved a considerable amount. The Socialists in local government demonstrated that they could rule effectively and realistically. They expanded public services without creating extra bureaucracy. The Socialists strived to improve housing, education and transport facilities. These popular programs helped expand the credibility of the Socialist Party at a local level. By the late 1970's, the Socialist Party had become by far the largest party at the local government level. Its popularity grew to become a source of ...