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PARIS - Fans of Francois Mitterrand and amateur historians eager for the frisson of a connection with the most enigmatic figure of modern French politics have marked down today as a special date in their diary.
Mitterrand's clothes are due to come under the hammer at an unusual auction in Paris by his widow, Danielle Mitterrand.
Each of the curios up for sale bear the touch of the President, often dubbed Machiavelli or the Sphinx for the way he ruled France from 1981 to 1995.
"All of the clothes have been worn and will have a certificate of authenticity provided by Danielle Mitterrand," says Benedicte Blondeau-Wattel of the Drouot auction house.
The 368 items include a pair of British-made Church's slippers in black velvet and embroidered with a socialist red rose, that carry an estimate of between €150 and €250 ($300-500). Dozens of woollen suits, hand-made by the luxury tailor Cifonelli, are expected to fetch around €450.
Mitterrand's trademark dark broad-rimmed felt hats are thought likely to find buyers at between €80 and €120 a pop, and a batch of 16 red scarves - the kind that he favoured on his long walks in his beloved southwestern France - are priced at between €80 and €120.
There is also a number of personal gifts to Mitterrand from VIPs, such as a crocodile leather bag given by Fidel Castro and a green leather case with precious oils and bath salts, given by Saudi Arabia.
The garments mark the third sale of Mitterrand memorabilia after his furniture and wine collections. Danielle Mitterrand hopes to raise between €60,000 and €90,000 for her financially-strapped foundation, France Libertes, which helps people in poor countries gain access to running water.
Mitterrand died 12 years ago, but like Charles de Gaulle continues to cast a spell over France. He bequeathed a legacy of radical socialism, cynical manipulation, chronic secrecy and pharaonic architectural schemes.
Among the Mitterrand generation in the Socialist Party, feelings are mixed, with some saying his personal items would have been better housed in a museum. "Personally, I'm not in favour of buying relics," said veteran MP Jean-Marc Ayrault.
