Since the 1981 election of François Mitterrand, the Presidential Majority was divided. In March 1983, Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy renounced the left's radical Common Programme which had been agreed in the 1970s. Wages and prices were frozen. This change of economic policy was justified by the will to stay in the European Monetary System. One year later, the Communist ministers refused to remain in Laurent Fabius' cabinet.[2]
In opposition, the two main right-wing parties tried to forget their past quarrels. They were able to win the mid-term elections (1982 departmental elections, 1983 municipal elections, 1984 European Parliament election) and succeeded in forcing the government to abandon its policy of limiting the financing of private schools in 1984. The Rally for the Republic (RPR), led by Jacques Chirac, abandoned the traditional dirigiste and Eurosceptic Gaullist doctrines about the economy and European integration. It was then able to sign an electoral platform with the Union for French Democracy (UDF). It proposed notably to sell the companies nationalized by President Mitterrand and Pierre Mauroy.[2]
However, France had also witnessed the electoral rise of the National Front (FN). Its leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, made nationalist and xenophobic remarks. He appealed to part of the conservative electorate, notably some RPR voters. The right-wing opposition was divided on the question of an alliance with the FN. In 1985, President Mitterrand's decision to re-establish party-list proportional representation at the legislative election caused political outrage. The RPR/UDF opposition accused him of wanting to strengthen the FN in order to weaken the Republican Right, which was favourite to win according to the polls. Proportional representation was the only electoral system which was considered likely to allow the election of FN deputies.
While the polls indicated a win by the RPR/UDF coalition, the former UDF Prime minister Raymond Barre argued that the next parliamentary majority should refuse to govern if President Mitterrand did not resign. Advised by Edouard Balladur, Jacques Chirac noted, however, that impeachment did not exist in the French Constitution. Instead, the next majority would "cohabit" with Mitterrand. The right-wing cabinet would enforce its domestic policy programme and Mitterrand would keep control of foreign and military affairs.[2]
Eventually, the RPR/UDF coalition obtained only a two-seat majority. Consequently, for the first time of the history of the Fifth Republic, the parliamentary majority was opposed to the President. Nevertheless, the Socialist Party held more seats than the polls had indicated. The FN was able to form a parliamentary group with its 35 elected members. The decline of the French Communist Party continued. Mitterrand nominated Chirac as Prime Minister. The first "cohabitation" of the Fifth Republic started. The new cabinet abolished proportional representation for the next legislative elections. The "cohabitation" ended with the 1988 legislative election.[2]
^Northcutt, Wayne (28 June 2008). "The 1986 French Legislative Elections: Who Really Won?1". Australian Journal of Politics & History. 33 (2): 90–99. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8497.1987.tb01219.x.
^ abcd"Thirty years on, Mitterrand mania grips France". France 24. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
June 19, 2023
1986, french, legislative, election, french, legislative, elections, took, place, march, 1986, elect, eighth, national, assembly, fifth, republic, contrary, other, legislative, elections, fifth, republic, electoral, system, used, that, party, list, proportiona. The French legislative elections took place on 16 March 1986 to elect the eighth National Assembly of the Fifth Republic Contrary to other legislative elections of the Fifth Republic the electoral system used was that of party list proportional representation 1 1986 French legislative election 1981 16 March 1986 1988 All 573 seats to the French National Assembly 287 seats were needed for a majorityTurnout78 0 First party Second party Third party Leader Laurent Fabius Jacques Chirac Jean LecanuetParty PS RPR UDFLeader s seat Seine Maritime Correze Seine MaritimeLast election 283 seats 85 seats 62 seatsSeats won 206 149 127Seat change 77 64 65Popular vote 8 693 939 3 143 224 alone 6 008 612 RPR UDF 2 330 167 alone 6 008 612 RPR UDF Percentage 31 02 11 22 alone 21 44 RPR UDF 8 31 alone 21 44 RPR UDF Fourth party Fifth party Leader Georges Marchais Jean Marie Le PenParty PCF FNLeader s seat N A ParisLast election 44 seats 0 seatsSeats won 35 35Seat change 9 35Popular vote 2 739 225 2 703 442Percentage 9 78 9 65 Prime Minister before electionLaurent FabiusPS Elected Prime Minister Jacques ChiracRPRSince the 1981 election of Francois Mitterrand the Presidential Majority was divided In March 1983 Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy renounced the left s radical Common Programme which had been agreed in the 1970s Wages and prices were frozen This change of economic policy was justified by the will to stay in the European Monetary System One year later the Communist ministers refused to remain in Laurent Fabius cabinet 2 In opposition the two main right wing parties tried to forget their past quarrels They were able to win the mid term elections 1982 departmental elections 1983 municipal elections 1984 European Parliament election and succeeded in forcing the government to abandon its policy of limiting the financing of private schools in 1984 The Rally for the Republic RPR led by Jacques Chirac abandoned the traditional dirigiste and Eurosceptic Gaullist doctrines about the economy and European integration It was then able to sign an electoral platform with the Union for French Democracy UDF It proposed notably to sell the companies nationalized by President Mitterrand and Pierre Mauroy 2 However France had also witnessed the electoral rise of the National Front FN Its leader Jean Marie Le Pen made nationalist and xenophobic remarks He appealed to part of the conservative electorate notably some RPR voters The right wing opposition was divided on the question of an alliance with the FN In 1985 President Mitterrand s decision to re establish party list proportional representation at the legislative election caused political outrage The RPR UDF opposition accused him of wanting to strengthen the FN in order to weaken the Republican Right which was favourite to win according to the polls Proportional representation was the only electoral system which was considered likely to allow the election of FN deputies While the polls indicated a win by the RPR UDF coalition the former UDF Prime minister Raymond Barre argued that the next parliamentary majority should refuse to govern if President Mitterrand did not resign Advised by Edouard Balladur Jacques Chirac noted however that impeachment did not exist in the French Constitution Instead the next majority would cohabit with Mitterrand The right wing cabinet would enforce its domestic policy programme and Mitterrand would keep control of foreign and military affairs 2 Eventually the RPR UDF coalition obtained only a two seat majority Consequently for the first time of the history of the Fifth Republic the parliamentary majority was opposed to the President Nevertheless the Socialist Party held more seats than the polls had indicated The FN was able to form a parliamentary group with its 35 elected members The decline of the French Communist Party continued Mitterrand nominated Chirac as Prime Minister The first cohabitation of the Fifth Republic started The new cabinet abolished proportional representation for the next legislative elections The cohabitation ended with the 1988 legislative election 2 Results Edit Parties and coalitions Abbr Votes SeatsRally for the Republic Union for French Democracy Common lists RPR UDF 6 008 612 21 44 73 RPR 74 UDFRally for the Republic Rassemblement pour la Republique RPR 3 143 224 11 22 76Union for French Democracy Union pour la democratie francaise UDF 2 330 167 8 31 53Miscellaneous Right wing DVD 1 083 711 3 87 14Total RPR UDF Union Right 12 565 714 44 84 290Socialist Party Parti socialiste PS 8 693 939 31 02 206French Communist Party Parti communiste francais PCF 2 739 225 9 78 35Miscellaneous Left DVG 301 063 1 07 5Movement of Left Radicals Mouvement des radicaux de gauche MRG 107 769 0 38 2UNG Aime Cesaire Martinique UNG 56 044 0 20 0Total Left Presidential Majority and PCF 11 898 040 42 45 248National Front Front national and Rassemblement national FN 2 703 442 9 65 35Far Left EXG 430 352 1 54 Ecologists ECO 340 109 1 21 Far Right EXD 57 432 0 20 Regionalists REG 28 379 0 10 Total 28 024 168 100 00 573Abstention 22 00 8th Assembly by Parliamentary Group Edit Group Members Caucusing Total Socialist Group 196 16 212 RPR Group 147 8 155 UDF Group 114 17 131 Communist Group 32 3 35 FN Group 32 3 35 Non Inscrits 9 0 9Total 557 20 577References Edit Northcutt Wayne 28 June 2008 The 1986 French Legislative Elections Who Really Won 1 Australian Journal of Politics amp History 33 2 90 99 doi 10 1111 j 1467 8497 1987 tb01219 x a b c d Thirty years on Mitterrand mania grips France France 24 9 May 2011 Retrieved 25 October 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1986 French legislative election amp oldid 1145767109, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
