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1974 French presidential election

Presidential election 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 is to date the closest presidential election in French history.

1974 French presidential election

← 1969 5 May 1974 (first round)
19 May 1974 (second round)
1981 →
 
Candidate Valéry Giscard d'Estaing François Mitterrand
Party RI PS
Popular vote 13,396,203 12,971,604
Percentage 50.81% 49.19%

Results of the first round by department

Results of the second round by department

President before election

Alain Poher
(acting President after Georges Pompidou died in April)
CD

Elected President

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
RI

Campaign

In 1969, Georges Pompidou, formerly Prime Minister under the presidency of Charles de Gaulle, was elected President of France for a seven-year term. However, he died in office on 2 April 1974, and the French voters were called to elect his successor. The political classes were caught unawares by Pompidou's death.

On the Left, the Socialist Party (PS), the French Communist Party (PCF), and the Movement of Left Radicals (MRG) campaigned for the Programme commun that they agreed in 1972. Whilst the PCF was the main force of this coalition (at least in terms of popular support), they united behind the candidacy of the PS leader François Mitterrand. Indeed, they thought the "Union of Left" could not win if it was led by a Communist in the presidential race. The fear of communism was often an argument used by the French Right to win elections. Furthermore, Mitterrand had succeeded in forcing an unexpected second ballot when he was candidate in 1965 against General De Gaulle. Only two smaller Trotskyist parties refused to support Mitterrand and the Common Program, as well as the Social Democratic Party founded by a split of Socialist elects who disapproved the alliance with the PCF. Arlette Laguiller from Workers' Struggle became the first female candidate on the ballot paper for a French presidential election. For the first time since the beginning of the Fifth Republic in 1958, the Left had a serious chance of victory.

The situation in the "Presidential Majority" was very confused: no "natural candidate" had appeared. Prime Minister Pierre Messmer had announced he would run if he was the only candidate of the majority. This condition being not satisfied, he withdrew. Four men declared their will to run: former Gaullist Prime Minister Jacques Chaban-Delmas, the Chairman of the National Assembly Edgar Faure, the former Craftsmen and Shopkeepers Minister representing the ultra-conservative wing of the Gaullist Party Jean Royer, and finally the Economy Minister and leader of the Independent Republicans Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Quickly, Faure withdrew and the real competition on the Right was between Chaban-Delmas and Giscard d'Estaing.

Chaban-Delmas conveyed an image of being a reformist Gaullist and invoked his proposals for a "New Society", which he had tried to apply when he led the cabinet (from 1969 to 1972), but he was supported by the "Barons of Gaullism" who held the bulk of ministerial offices for 16 years. His challengers denounced the continuation of the UDR-state, that is to say the appropriation of the state by the Gaullist Party.

Giscard d'Estaing portrayed himself as "the change in the continuity", a "modern turn" for the French politics, in the incumbent majority and more reassuring for moderate voters than the Common Program which was characterised as a collectivist project. He benefited from the divisions in the UDR. Indeed, 43 Gaullist personalities close to Pompidou and led by the young Interior Minister Jacques Chirac published an appeal insinuating that Giscard d'Estaing was more likely than Chaban-Delmas to defeat Mitterrand. As a result, the left-wing candidate faced the leader of the Independent Republicans in a very competitive run-off.

For the first time in the history of the French presidential elections, a Radio-TV-debate between the two finalists was organized. Mitterrand presented his competitor as the representing of the elites who pursued unfair policies, while Giscard d'Estaing criticized his opponent to be "a man of the past". The turnout reached a record of over 87% and Giscard was elected with a margin of only 424,599 votes. He nominated Chirac as Prime Minister.

Result

CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
François MitterrandSocialist Party11,044,37343.2512,971,60449.19
Valéry Giscard d'EstaingNational Federation of the Independent Republicans8,326,77432.6013,396,20350.81
Jacques Chaban-DelmasUnion of Democrats for the Republic3,857,72815.11
Jean RoyerIndependent right-wing conservative810,5403.17
Arlette LaguillerWorkers' Struggle595,2472.33
René DumontIndependent environmentalist337,8001.32
Jean-Marie Le PenNational Front190,9210.75
Émile MullerDemocratic Socialist Movement176,2790.69
Alain KrivineRevolutionary Communist Front93,9900.37
Bertrand RenouvinNew French Action43,7220.17
Jean-Claude SebagEuropean Federalist Movement42,0070.16
Guy HéraudEuropean federalist19,2550.08
Total25,538,636100.0026,367,807100.00
Valid votes25,538,63699.0826,367,80798.66
Invalid/blank votes237,1070.92356,7881.34
Total votes25,775,743100.0026,724,595100.00
Registered voters/turnout30,602,95384.2330,600,77587.33
Source: Constitutional Court, Constitutional Court

See also

Further reading

  • Bell, David. François Mitterrand: A Political Biography (Polity, 2005).
  • Berstein, Serge, Sergej Natanovič Bernstejn, and Jean-Pierre Rioux. The Pompidou Years, 1969–1974 (Cambridge University Press, 2000).
  • Criddle, Byron. "The French presidential election." The World Today 30.6 (1974): 231–238. online
  • Hayward, Jack, and Vincent Wright. "'Les deux France' the French presidential election of May 1974." Parliamentary Affairs 27.1974 (1974): 208–236.

External links

  • Radio-TV debate Valéry Giscard d'Estaing/François Mitterrand

1974, french, presidential, election, presidential, election, were, held, france, 1974, following, death, president, georges, pompidou, they, went, second, round, were, valéry, giscard, estaing, margin, date, closest, presidential, election, french, history, 1. Presidential election were held in France in 1974 following the death of President Georges Pompidou They went to a second round and were won by Valery Giscard d Estaing by a margin of 1 6 It is to date the closest presidential election in French history 1974 French presidential election 1969 5 May 1974 first round 19 May 1974 second round 1981 Candidate Valery Giscard d Estaing Francois MitterrandParty RI PSPopular vote 13 396 203 12 971 604Percentage 50 81 49 19 Results of the first round by departmentResults of the second round by departmentPresident before electionAlain Poher acting President after Georges Pompidou died in April CD Elected President Valery Giscard d EstaingRI Contents 1 Campaign 2 Result 3 See also 4 Further reading 5 External linksCampaign EditIn 1969 Georges Pompidou formerly Prime Minister under the presidency of Charles de Gaulle was elected President of France for a seven year term However he died in office on 2 April 1974 and the French voters were called to elect his successor The political classes were caught unawares by Pompidou s death On the Left the Socialist Party PS the French Communist Party PCF and the Movement of Left Radicals MRG campaigned for the Programme commun that they agreed in 1972 Whilst the PCF was the main force of this coalition at least in terms of popular support they united behind the candidacy of the PS leader Francois Mitterrand Indeed they thought the Union of Left could not win if it was led by a Communist in the presidential race The fear of communism was often an argument used by the French Right to win elections Furthermore Mitterrand had succeeded in forcing an unexpected second ballot when he was candidate in 1965 against General De Gaulle Only two smaller Trotskyist parties refused to support Mitterrand and the Common Program as well as the Social Democratic Party founded by a split of Socialist elects who disapproved the alliance with the PCF Arlette Laguiller from Workers Struggle became the first female candidate on the ballot paper for a French presidential election For the first time since the beginning of the Fifth Republic in 1958 the Left had a serious chance of victory The situation in the Presidential Majority was very confused no natural candidate had appeared Prime Minister Pierre Messmer had announced he would run if he was the only candidate of the majority This condition being not satisfied he withdrew Four men declared their will to run former Gaullist Prime Minister Jacques Chaban Delmas the Chairman of the National Assembly Edgar Faure the former Craftsmen and Shopkeepers Minister representing the ultra conservative wing of the Gaullist Party Jean Royer and finally the Economy Minister and leader of the Independent Republicans Valery Giscard d Estaing Quickly Faure withdrew and the real competition on the Right was between Chaban Delmas and Giscard d Estaing Chaban Delmas conveyed an image of being a reformist Gaullist and invoked his proposals for a New Society which he had tried to apply when he led the cabinet from 1969 to 1972 but he was supported by the Barons of Gaullism who held the bulk of ministerial offices for 16 years His challengers denounced the continuation of the UDR state that is to say the appropriation of the state by the Gaullist Party Giscard d Estaing portrayed himself as the change in the continuity a modern turn for the French politics in the incumbent majority and more reassuring for moderate voters than the Common Program which was characterised as a collectivist project He benefited from the divisions in the UDR Indeed 43 Gaullist personalities close to Pompidou and led by the young Interior Minister Jacques Chirac published an appeal insinuating that Giscard d Estaing was more likely than Chaban Delmas to defeat Mitterrand As a result the left wing candidate faced the leader of the Independent Republicans in a very competitive run off For the first time in the history of the French presidential elections a Radio TV debate between the two finalists was organized Mitterrand presented his competitor as the representing of the elites who pursued unfair policies while Giscard d Estaing criticized his opponent to be a man of the past The turnout reached a record of over 87 and Giscard was elected with a margin of only 424 599 votes He nominated Chirac as Prime Minister Result EditCandidatePartyFirst roundSecond roundVotes Votes Francois MitterrandSocialist Party11 044 37343 2512 971 60449 19Valery Giscard d EstaingNational Federation of the Independent Republicans8 326 77432 6013 396 20350 81Jacques Chaban DelmasUnion of Democrats for the Republic3 857 72815 11Jean RoyerIndependent right wing conservative810 5403 17Arlette LaguillerWorkers Struggle595 2472 33Rene DumontIndependent environmentalist337 8001 32Jean Marie Le PenNational Front190 9210 75Emile MullerDemocratic Socialist Movement176 2790 69Alain KrivineRevolutionary Communist Front93 9900 37Bertrand RenouvinNew French Action43 7220 17Jean Claude SebagEuropean Federalist Movement42 0070 16Guy HeraudEuropean federalist19 2550 08Total25 538 636100 0026 367 807100 00Valid votes25 538 63699 0826 367 80798 66Invalid blank votes237 1070 92356 7881 34Total votes25 775 743100 0026 724 595100 00Registered voters turnout30 602 95384 2330 600 77587 33Source Constitutional Court Constitutional CourtSee also EditPresident of France Politics of FranceFurther reading EditBell David Francois Mitterrand A Political Biography Polity 2005 Berstein Serge Sergej Natanovic Bernstejn and Jean Pierre Rioux The Pompidou Years 1969 1974 Cambridge University Press 2000 Criddle Byron The French presidential election The World Today 30 6 1974 231 238 online Hayward Jack and Vincent Wright Les deux France the French presidential election of May 1974 Parliamentary Affairs 27 1974 1974 208 236 External links EditRadio TV debate Valery Giscard d Estaing Francois Mitterrand Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1974 French presidential election amp oldid 1119990981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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