1962, 1967, 1968, 1973, 1978. Senate of France Senator of Nièvre: 1959–1962 (resignation, reelected member of the National Assembly of France in 1962). Elected in 1959. General Council President of the General Council of Nièvre: 1964–1981 (resignation, became President of the French Republic in 1981). Reelected in 1967, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1979. General councillor of Nièvre: 1949–1981 (resignation). Reelected in 1955, 1961, 1967, 1973, 1979. Municipal Council Mayor of Château-Chinon (Ville): 1959–1981 (resignation, became President of the French Republic in 1981). Reelected in 1965, 1971, 1977. Municipal councillor of Château-Chinon (Ville): 1959–1981 (resignation). Reelected in 1965, 1971, 1977. Political function First Secretary (leader) of the Socialist Party: 1971–1981 (resignation, became President of the French Republic in 1981). Reelected in 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979. From 1962 to 1964 and, again, from 1969 to 1971, he was the Grand Master of the Grand Orient de France. In May 1987, Mitterrand was also the first French president to receive a representative of that organization at the Élysée Palace. Honours France Grand Master of the Legion of Honour Grand Master of the Ordre national du Mérite Foreign honours : Grand Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (October 19, 1981) : Knight of the Order of the Elephant (1982) : Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1982) : Collar of the Order of the White Rose (1982) : Grand Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (1982) : Grand Cross of the National Order (May 20, 1982) : Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion (May 22, 1982) : Grand star of merit for services rendered to the Republic (June 1982) : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (1982) : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic (July 1982) : Grand Collar of the Order of Mohamed (1983) : Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (1983) : Grand Cross of the National Order of the Republic (1983) : Grand Cross of the Order of Valor (1983) : Grand Cross of the Cameroonian Order of Merit : Grand Cross of the National Order (1983) : Grand Cross of the Order of Mono (1983) : Grand Cross of the Order of the Star (1983) : of the Order of the Republic (1983) : Grand Cross of the Order of Independence (1983) : Grand Cross, Special Class of the Order of Merit (1983) : Collar of the