Independent Republicans
Encyclopedia
The Independent Republicans were a French liberal-conservative political group founded in 1962, which became a political party in 1966 (National Federation of the Independent Republicans). The leader was Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
.
In 1977 it became the Republican Party
which joined the Union for French Democracy
the following year. Eventually the Republicans joined the Union for a Popular Movement
in 2002.
's coalition due to his euro-scepticism and the presidentialisation of the regime. But, the CNIP ministers refused to left the cabinet and the "presidential majority".
Under the leadership of the Minister of Economy and Finances Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
, they created the group of the Independent Republicans. It was the small partner of the Gaullists which tried to influence the executive's policy in favour of economic liberalism
and European federalism.
The relation with the Gaullists tensed when Giscard d'Estaing was dismissed from the cabinet in 1966. The group became a political party, the National Federation of the Independent Republicans (Fédération nationale des républicains indépendants or FNRI), directed by the general secretary Michel Poniatowski
. Giscard d'Estaing defined the Independent Republicans as "liberal, centerist and pro-European". It stood in the parliamentary majority, but chosen a critical attitude. Giscard d'Estaing summed up his opinion about the Gaullist policy by a "yes, but...".
In 1969, the party divided about the referendum of regionalisation and Senate
's reform. Giscard d'Estaing called to vote "no". President de Gaulle resigned when the "no" won. The FNRI supported the winning candidacy of Georges Pompidou
for the presidency and its leader re-integrated the cabinet as Economy Minister.
In 1974, after President Pompidou's death, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing announced his candidacy at the presidential election
. It was supported by the FNRI, the Reforming Movement
and, covertly, by a part of the Gaullists. He was elected in eliminating Jacques Chaban-Delmas
(Gaullist) in the first round, then in defeating François Mitterrand
(Left) in the second round.
Three years later, the FNRI was replaced by the Republican Party
(PR) which became the liberal-conservative wing of the Union for French Democracy
(UDF) created in 1978.
, a number of parliamentary groups in the Chamber of Deputies united conservative and right-wing members. A similar group, the Republican Independents
also existed, uniting most of the far-right.
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
.
In 1977 it became the Republican Party
Republican Party (France)
The Republican Party was a French right-wing political party founded in 1977. It replaced the National Federation of the Independent Republicans that was founded in 1966. It was created by former President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing...
which joined the Union for French Democracy
Union for French Democracy
The Union for French Democracy was a French centrist political party. It was founded in 1978 as an electoral alliance to support President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in order to counterbalance the Gaullist preponderance over the right. This name was chosen due to the title of Giscard d'Estaing's...
the following year. Eventually the Republicans joined the Union for a Popular Movement
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
in 2002.
History
The Independent Republicans came from the liberal-conservative National Center of Independents and Peasants (CNIP). In 1962, the CNIP chose to leave Charles de GaulleCharles 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 coalition due to his euro-scepticism and the presidentialisation of the regime. But, the CNIP ministers refused to left the cabinet and the "presidential majority".
Under the leadership of the Minister of Economy and Finances Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
, they created the group of the Independent Republicans. It was the small partner of the Gaullists which tried to influence the executive's policy in favour of economic liberalism
Economic liberalism
Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in giving all people economic freedom, and as such granting people with more basis to control their own lives and make their own mistakes. It is an economic philosophy that supports and promotes individual liberty and choice in economic matters and...
and European federalism.
The relation with the Gaullists tensed when Giscard d'Estaing was dismissed from the cabinet in 1966. The group became a political party, the National Federation of the Independent Republicans (Fédération nationale des républicains indépendants or FNRI), directed by the general secretary Michel Poniatowski
Michel Poniatowski
Michel Poniatowski was a Polish Prince and French politician. He was a founder of the Independent Republicans and a part of the administration for President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Poniatowski served as Minister of Health from 1973 to 1974 and Minister of the Interior in the d'Estaing government...
. Giscard d'Estaing defined the Independent Republicans as "liberal, centerist and pro-European". It stood in the parliamentary majority, but chosen a critical attitude. Giscard d'Estaing summed up his opinion about the Gaullist policy by a "yes, but...".
In 1969, the party divided about the referendum of regionalisation and Senate
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
's reform. Giscard d'Estaing called to vote "no". President de Gaulle resigned when the "no" won. The FNRI supported the winning candidacy of Georges Pompidou
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
for the presidency and its leader re-integrated the cabinet as Economy Minister.
In 1974, after President Pompidou's death, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing announced his candidacy at the presidential election
French presidential election, 1974
Presidential elections were held in :France in 1974, following the death of President Georges Pompidou. They went to a second round, and were won by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing by a margin of 1.6%...
. It was supported by the FNRI, the Reforming Movement
Reforming Movement
The Reforming Movement was a French centrist political group created in 1972 by the alliance between the Radical Party led by Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber and the Christian-democratic Democratic Centre headed by Jean Lecanuet....
and, covertly, by a part of the Gaullists. He was elected in eliminating Jacques Chaban-Delmas
Jacques Chaban-Delmas
Jacques Chaban-Delmas was a French Gaullist politician. He served as Prime Minister under Georges Pompidou from 1969 to 1972. In addition, for almost half a century, he was Mayor of Bordeaux and a deputy for the Gironde département....
(Gaullist) in the first round, then in defeating 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...
(Left) in the second round.
Three years later, the FNRI was replaced by the Republican Party
Republican Party (France)
The Republican Party was a French right-wing political party founded in 1977. It replaced the National Federation of the Independent Republicans that was founded in 1966. It was created by former President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing...
(PR) which became the liberal-conservative wing of the Union for French Democracy
Union for French Democracy
The Union for French Democracy was a French centrist political party. It was founded in 1978 as an electoral alliance to support President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in order to counterbalance the Gaullist preponderance over the right. This name was chosen due to the title of Giscard d'Estaing's...
(UDF) created in 1978.
Third Republic
During the French Third RepublicFrench 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...
, a number of parliamentary groups in the Chamber of Deputies united conservative and right-wing members. A similar group, the Republican Independents
Republican Independents
The Independents and later Republican Independents was a French parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies of France during the French Third Republic between 1928 and 1940. The IR was composed of the most conservative members of the legislature, to the right of the Republican Federation...
also existed, uniting most of the far-right.