French legislative election, November 1946
Encyclopedia
Legislative election was held in France on 10 November 1946 to elect the first National Assembly
of the Fourth Republic
. The electoral system used was proportional representation
.
After the rejection of a first constitutional draft (5 May 1946 referendum
), a new provisional National Assembly was elected to elaborate a second text. The Christian-Democrat leader Georges Bidault
(Popular Republican Movement
, MRP) lead a government which included Socialists (French Section of the Workers' International, SFIO) and Communists (French Communist Party
, PCF). This Three-parties
alliance proposed the establishment of a parliamentary system.
Advocating a presidential government, Charles de Gaulle
campaigned for a "No" vote. He warned against the "regime of the parties" which was, according to him, responsible for the 1940 collapse. His followers founded the Gaullist Union
. The Rally of the Republican Lefts (an electoral alliance dominated by the Radical Party) and the classical Right also campaigned for a "No", because they were opposed to a constitutional change and to the economic policy of the three-parties alliance. Despite this, the second constitutional draft was approved by 13 October 1946 referendum
.
The French voters were called to elect the first Assembly of the Fourth Republic. The Three-parties alliance won with a comfortable majority. The PCF regained its position as the largest party to the detriment of the Christian-Democrats. It obtained the best electoral result in its history. The MRP and the SFIO vote decreased slightly.
Consequently, the PCF leader Maurice Thorez
demanded to lead the government but his allies refused. Finally, the former Socialist Prime Minister Léon Blum
took the head of the cabinet. Furthermore, another Socialist, Vincent Auriol
, was elected President of France. The SFIO benefited from its position in the middle of the governmental alliance. But, the alliance split in due to the 1947 strikes and the beginning of the Cold War
. The Communists ministers were dismissed by Socialist Prime Minister Paul Ramadier
. The SFIO, the MRP, the Radicals and the classical Right allied to form the Third Force
coalition, against the Communists on the one hand, and the Gaullists on the other.
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
of the Fourth Republic
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...
. The electoral system used was proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
After the rejection of a first constitutional draft (5 May 1946 referendum
French constitutional referendum, May 1946
A constitutional referendum was held in France on 5 May 1946. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution proposed by the National Assembly elected in 1945. Moderates, Radicals, and the Popular Republican Movement campaigned against the referendum. It was rejected by 52.8% of...
), a new provisional National Assembly was elected to elaborate a second text. The Christian-Democrat leader Georges Bidault
Georges Bidault
Georges-Augustin Bidault was a French politician. During World War II, he was active in the French Resistance. After the war, he served as foreign minister and prime minister on several occasions before he joined the Organisation armée secrète.-Early life:...
(Popular Republican Movement
Popular Republican Movement
The Popular Republican Movement was a French Christian democratic party of the Fourth Republic...
, MRP) lead a government which included Socialists (French Section of the Workers' International, SFIO) and Communists (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). This Three-parties
Three-parties
The Three-Parties Alliance was a coalition which governed in France from 1944 to 1947, and was composed of the French Communist Party , the French Section of the Workers' International and the Christian Democrat Popular Republican Movement , which to begin with contained the regrouped Gaullists...
alliance proposed the establishment of a parliamentary system.
Advocating a presidential government, 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....
campaigned for a "No" vote. He warned against the "regime of the parties" which was, according to him, responsible for the 1940 collapse. His followers founded the Gaullist Union
Gaullist Party
In France, the Gaullist Party is usually used to refer to the largest party professing to be Gaullist. Gaullism claimed to transcend the left/right rift...
. The Rally of the Republican Lefts (an electoral alliance dominated by the Radical Party) and the classical Right also campaigned for a "No", because they were opposed to a constitutional change and to the economic policy of the three-parties alliance. Despite this, the second constitutional draft was approved by 13 October 1946 referendum
French constitutional referendum, October 1946
A constitutional referendum was held in France on 13 October 1946. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new constitution proposed by the Constituent Assembly elected in June. Unlike the May referendum, which saw a previous constitutional proposal rejected, the new constitution was accepted...
.
The French voters were called to elect the first Assembly of the Fourth Republic. The Three-parties alliance won with a comfortable majority. The PCF regained its position as the largest party to the detriment of the Christian-Democrats. It obtained the best electoral result in its history. The MRP and the SFIO vote decreased slightly.
Consequently, the PCF leader 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....
demanded to lead the government but his allies refused. Finally, the former Socialist Prime Minister Léon Blum
Léon Blum
André Léon Blum was a French politician, usually identified with the moderate left, and three times the Prime Minister of France.-First political experiences:...
took the head of the cabinet. Furthermore, another Socialist, Vincent Auriol
Vincent Auriol
Vincent Jules Auriol was a French politician who served as the first President of the Fourth Republic from 1947 to 1954. He also served as interim President of the Provisional Government from November to December 1946, making him one of only three people who were heads of state of the French...
, was elected President of France. The SFIO benefited from its position in the middle of the governmental alliance. But, the alliance split in due to the 1947 strikes and the beginning of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. The Communists ministers were dismissed by Socialist Prime Minister 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...
. The SFIO, the MRP, the Radicals and the classical Right allied to form 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, against the Communists on the one hand, and the Gaullists on the other.