Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
Encyclopedia
The Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance (Union démocratique et socialiste de la Résistance or UDSR) was a French political party found at the Liberation and in activity during the Fourth Republic
(1947-58). It was a founding member of the Liberal International
in 1947.
network Movement of National Liberation. The project was to create a French labour party with all the former non-Communist Resistance
. However, this plan failed because of the rebirth of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) and the emergence of the new Christian-Democratic party Popular Republican Movement
(MRP) and then of the Gaullist party, Rally of the French People
(RPF). Henceforth, the UDSR associated itself with the Radical Party, who had been in government during most of the Third Republic
, in the Rally of the Republican Lefts (Rassemblement des gauches républicaines or RGR), which presented itself as an alternative to the tripartisme alliance between the SFIO, the MRP and the French Communist Party
(PCF). Its name is a typical example of French sinistrisme
, where politicians tended to reject right-wing terms, preferring to label themselves as left-wing.
during which Maurice Thorez
, Communist vice-premier, and four others PCF ministers left Paul Ramadier
's government, the UDSR took part in the Third Force
coalition which gathered the centre-left and centre-right parties to face with the oppositions of the PCF
on the one hand, and of the RPF
on the other. It remained through-out the Fourth Republic a minor centerist political party which participated to the governments. Its president René Pleven
was named president of the Council from 1951 to 1952, before being succeeded by Antoine Pinay
(National Centre of Independents and Peasants
, CNIP). But Pleven's leadership was eventually challenged by François Mitterrand
who advocated a realignment to the Left, and took the lead in 1953.
In 1956, the UDSR participated in the centre-left coalition Republican Front
, headed by Pierre Mendès-France
, which won the legislative election. However, two years later, the UDSR imploded. Indeed, Pleven and the conservative wing approved Charles de Gaulle
's come back during the May 1958 crisis
, in the midst of the Algerian War and threats of a coup d'état, and the institutions of the Fifth Republic
, contrary to Mitterrand who called the new Constitution a "permanent coup d'état."
(CIR), which itself merged at the 1971 Epinay Congress
in the new Socialist Party
(PS), which is currently the main left-wing party in France.
French Fourth Republic
The French Fourth Republic was the republican government of France between 1946 and 1958, governed by the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Third Republic, which was in place before World War II, and suffered many of the same problems...
(1947-58). It was a founding member of the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
in 1947.
Foundation
It was founded in 1945 by the non-Communist majority of the resistanceFrench Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
network Movement of National Liberation. The project was to create a French labour party with all the former non-Communist Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. However, this plan failed because of the rebirth of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) and the emergence of the new Christian-Democratic party Popular Republican Movement
Popular Republican Movement
The Popular Republican Movement was a French Christian democratic party of the Fourth Republic...
(MRP) and then of the Gaullist party, Rally of the French People
Rally of the French People
The Rally of the French People was a French political party, led by Charles de Gaulle.-Foundation:...
(RPF). Henceforth, the UDSR associated itself with the Radical Party, who had been in government during most of the Third Republic
French Third Republic
The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
, in the Rally of the Republican Lefts (Rassemblement des gauches républicaines or RGR), which presented itself as an alternative to the tripartisme alliance between the SFIO, the MRP and the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
(PCF). Its name is a typical example of French sinistrisme
Sinistrisme
Sinistrisme is a neologism invented by Albert Thibaudet in Les idées politiques de la France . He referred to the progressive substitution of left wing parties by new, more radical parties, which in turn pushed each party towards the center Sinistrisme is a neologism invented by Albert Thibaudet in...
, where politicians tended to reject right-wing terms, preferring to label themselves as left-wing.
Fourth Republic
Following the May 1947 crisisMay 1947 crisis
The May 1947 Crisis of Italy was when the Communist Party of Italy was thrown out of government. The Christian Democrats led by Alcide De Gasperi were becoming increasingly unpopular, and were afraid that the Left Coalition would take power....
during which Maurice Thorez
Maurice Thorez
thumb|A Soviet stamp depicting Maurice Thorez.Maurice Thorez was a French politician and longtime leader of the French Communist Party from 1930 until his death. He also served as vice premier of France from 1946 to 1947....
, Communist vice-premier, and four others PCF ministers left Paul Ramadier
Paul Ramadier
Paul Ramadier was a prominent French politician of the Third and Fourth Republics. Mayor of Decazeville starting in 1919, he served as the first Prime Minister of the Fourth Republic in 1947. On 10 July 1940, he voted against the granting of the full powers to Marshal Philippe Pétain, who...
's government, the UDSR took part in the Third Force
Third Force (France)
The Third Force was a French coalition during the Fourth Republic which gathered the French Section of the Workers' International party, the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance centre-right party, the Radicals, the Christian democrat Popular Republican Movement and other centrist...
coalition which gathered the centre-left and centre-right parties to face with the oppositions of the PCF
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
on the one hand, and of the RPF
Rally of the French People
The Rally of the French People was a French political party, led by Charles de Gaulle.-Foundation:...
on the other. It remained through-out the Fourth Republic a minor centerist political party which participated to the governments. Its president René Pleven
René Pleven
René Pléven was a notable French politician of the Fourth Republic. A member of the Free French, he helped found the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance , a political party that was meant to be a successor to the wartime Resistance movement...
was named president of the Council from 1951 to 1952, before being succeeded by Antoine Pinay
Antoine Pinay
Antoine Pinay |Rhône]], France – 13 December 1994) was a French conservative politician. He served as Prime Minister of France in 1952.-Life:As a young man, Pinay fought in World War I and injured his arm so that it was paralyzed for the rest of his life....
(National Centre of Independents and Peasants
National Centre of Independents and Peasants
The National Centre of Independents and Peasants is a liberal-conservative and conservative-liberal political party in France, founded in 1949 by the merger of the National Centre of Independents with the...
, CNIP). But Pleven's leadership was eventually challenged by François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
who advocated a realignment to the Left, and took the lead in 1953.
In 1956, the UDSR participated in the centre-left coalition Republican Front
Republican Front (France)
The Republican Front was a French center-left coalition which won the 1956 legislative election. In the context of the Algerian War, behind Pierre Mendès-France, it gathered the French Section of the Workers' International , the Radical Party, the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance...
, headed by Pierre Mendès-France
Pierre Mendès-France
Pierre Mendès France was a French politician. He descended from a Portuguese Jewish family that moved to France in the sixteenth century.-Third Republic and World War II:...
, which won the legislative election. However, two years later, the UDSR imploded. Indeed, Pleven and the conservative wing approved Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
's come back during the May 1958 crisis
May 1958 crisis
The May 1958 crisis was a political crisis in France during the turmoil of the Algerian War of Independence which led to the return of Charles de Gaulle to political responsibilities after a ten year absence...
, in the midst of the Algerian War and threats of a coup d'état, and the institutions of the Fifth Republic
French Fifth Republic
The Fifth Republic is the fifth and current republican constitution of France, introduced on 4 October 1958. The Fifth Republic emerged from the collapse of the French Fourth Republic, replacing the prior parliamentary government with a semi-presidential system...
, contrary to Mitterrand who called the new Constitution a "permanent coup d'état."
Legacy
The UDSR survived until 1964, when it merged in Mitterrand's Convention of Republican InstitutionsConvention of Republican Institutions
The ' was a socialist and republican party in France led by François Mitterrand. The CIR, founded in 1964 transformed from a loosely organized club to a formal political party by the time of Mitterrand's candidacy in the 1965 election...
(CIR), which itself merged at the 1971 Epinay Congress
Epinay Congress
The Epinay Congress was the third national congress of the French Socialist Party , which took place on 11, 12 and 13 June 1971, in the town of Épinay-sur-Seine, in the northern suburbs of Paris...
in the new Socialist Party
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
(PS), which is currently the main left-wing party in France.
See also
- Third ForceThird Force (France)The Third Force was a French coalition during the Fourth Republic which gathered the French Section of the Workers' International party, the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance centre-right party, the Radicals, the Christian democrat Popular Republican Movement and other centrist...
- Tripartisme
- François MitterrandFrançois MitterrandFrançois Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
- René PlevenRené PlevenRené Pléven was a notable French politician of the Fourth Republic. A member of the Free French, he helped found the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance , a political party that was meant to be a successor to the wartime Resistance movement...
- French Fourth RepublicFrench Fourth RepublicThe French Fourth Republic was the republican government of France between 1946 and 1958, governed by the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Third Republic, which was in place before World War II, and suffered many of the same problems...