Fifty-one years ago today, on May 19, 1974 (April 28, 1974 lunar calendar), Giscard d'Estaing was elected President of France. The aristocratic Giscard d'Estaing was born in the German city of Koblenz in 1926. He joined the army in 1944. He was elected to the National Assembly several times after 1956. He was elected leader of the Independent Republican Party in 1962 and Minister of Economy and Finance from 1962 to 1966, solving the problem of fiscal deficits that had existed in France for 36 years. He was Minister of Economy and Finance again from 1969 to 1974. He won the presidential election following the death of Pompidou and became President of France on May 19, 1974. During his tenure, he carried out some liberal reforms, increased pensions and family benefits, and passed laws such as "freedom of divorce" and "freedom of abortion". In order to deal with economic stagnation, measures such as freezing prices and wages, controlling purchasing power, and raising taxes on high incomes were taken. He actively promoted the union of Western Europe, advocated that Western Europe speak with "one voice", and established a European monetary system with West Germany. He valued the Mediterranean Sea and relations with small European countries, advocated improving relations with the Third World, and visited Africa many times to advocate "North-South dialogue". Since then, due to the economic downturn, d'Estaing's prestige has declined. In the April 1981 presidential election, he resigned due to defeat.