France under Fifth Republic

Résumé du document

The French Fourth Republic collapsed following the rise of the civil war in Algeria. Its lack of stability, which was a consequence of its parliamentary structure and the weaknesses of its parties, did not manage to survive this major crisis, and pointed out the need for a stronger executive regime. On average, the parties during the fourth republic represented only 15 % of the electorate a piece. The Communist party was actually the strongest at this time, accounting for between 20% and 25% of the vote. All the parties were focused on narrow interests and clienteles and governments were built of heterogeneous coalitions. Kirchheimer explained that a catch-all party abandoned attempts at the intellectual and moral encadrement of the working class, turning more fully for a wider audience and immediate electoral success . While the Fourth Republic never managed to contribute to the emergence of this type of party, the Fifth Republic wished by De Gaulle and adopted in September by about 80% of the French people, might have introduced a significant turn in the French party system. De Gaulle wanted a strong executive to face the crisis, in that respect; he needed a strong support in the Parliament. The foundation of the UNR, 'L'Union Pour la Nouvelle République' on October 1958 by De Gaulle's supporters such as Michel Debré and Jacques Chaban Delmas, showed an attempt to appeal broadly to all parts of the French electoral spectrum in the shape of the French Gaullist party.

Extraits

[...] Although the moderate right has recently made a current successful attempt to unify itself with the UMP, “Union pour un Mouvement Populaire”, one should not ignore the many remaining divisions. The UMP gathers many previous and sometimes very opposed movements. Inside the UMP, the Gaullist's approach which was linked with Chirac is now overtaken by Nicolas Sarkozy neo-liberalist view. Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, decided to quit the party in January 2007 and decided to be candidate at next Presidential elections. He wants to stand for a true Gaullist's candidature. He is particularly annoyed towards Sarkozy pro US approach[10]. [...]

[...] Arnauld Miguet, French Elections of 2002: After the Earthquake, the Deluge”, West European Politics, (October 2002) Nabil Wakim, “Sarkozy se pose à la fois en rassembleur et en champion de la droite” , www.lemonde.fr, (14/01/2007) Alain Duhamel, mystère Bayrou”, Libération, (10/01/2006) Otto Kirchheimer, Catch-All Party”, in Peter Mair The West European Party System, Oxford University Press Paul Hainsworth, Right: Divisions and Cleavages in fin de siècle France”, in R. Elgie, Changing French Political System, (Frank Cass London, 2000), p 38. Robert Elgie, Political Institutions in Contemporary France, (Oxford University Press, 2003), p 58. Paul Hainsworth, Right: Divisions and Cleavages in fin de siècle France”, p 48. [...]

[...] The 1955 presidential election pitted two Gaullists against each other: Chirac and Edouard Balladur then Prime Minister. Chirac's candidature was at first considered as hopeless. In January 1995, the polls only gave him 19% at the first ballot while Balladur was given 32%. However, he managed to appear as a victim of treason as Balladur was formerly his friend and progressively got more and more sympathy from the French. He also took benefits of the fact that many ministers of Balladur's government were involved in judicial cases. [...]

[...] As he was supported by the CNI (Centre National des Independants) of Valerie Giscard D'Estaing, De Gaulle gained a large majority of 269 seats, which allowed him to manage the country firmly. It was a surprise when Mitterrand managed to push De Gaulle into a second ballot during the second presidential elections in the Fifth Republic in 1965, the first by universal suffrage. However De Gaulle collected 45% at the first ballot which remains an impressive results compare to the 2002 elections in which Chirac was below 20%[16]. In 1968, following the dramatic events of May, De Gaulle enjoyed again an impressive electoral success at the general elections in June. [...]

[...] Paul Hainsworth, Right: Divisions and Cleavages in fin de siècle France”, p 49 Laurent Douzou, Histoire de la France Contemporaine, (IEP de Lyon, 2005), course notes Marie Simon, “Giscard raconte Chirac et les autres”, L'Express, September 2006 Laurent Douzou Partie II (1995-1998): L'Affaire Millon, www.conscience- politique.org/histoire_politique/metfn2.htm Blog de Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, www.nda2007.fr/blog/ Nathalie Raulin, “Bayrou met les gaz pour attaquer l'UMP dès la rentrée”, (Libération, 04/09/2006), www.liberation.fr/actualite/politiques/202137.FR.php Jill Lovecy, End of French Exceptionalism”, in Robert Elgie The Changing French Political System, (Frank Cass London, 2000), p 210. Robert Elgie, Political Institutions in Contemporary France, (Oxford University Press, 2003), p 13. Peter Humphreys, Comparative European Politics, Course Guide, (University of Manchester, 2006), p 52. [...]