The RPF was founded by Charles de Gaulle in Strasbourg on 14 April 1947,[3] one year after his resignation from the presidency of the provisional government and four months after the proclamation of the Fourth Republic. It advocated a constitutional revision establishing a presidential government. For de Gaulle, the "regime of the parties" which characterized the parliamentary system did not permit the advent of a strong and efficient state. However, in French Republican culture, democracy and parliamentary sovereignty were inseparable. De Gaulle was accused of wanting to establish a Bonapartist government, with himself as the single dominant ruler.[4]
As de Gaulle also opposed the parties on the basis that they served particular interests and divided the nation, he wanted the RPF to be a "rally," not a political party, and allowed members of other parties (except Communists and former Vichy regime supporters) to join without compromising their other membership, but this hope was never realized. By 1948, the party counted half a million members, just behind the Communist Party. The RPF was able to gain the support of Maurrasien royalists (of the Action Française), leftist republicans such as André Malraux, moderates, Christian democrats such as Edmond Michelet, radicals such as Jacques Chaban-Delmas and Michel Debré, and even socialists and communists. Nevertheless, most of its voters came from the right-wing electorate.
Electoral record
The party enjoyed success in municipal elections (1947), capturing the cities of Lille, Marseille, Bordeaux (with Jacques Chaban-Delmas), Strasbourg, Rennes, Versailles, Le Mans, and Nancy with over 35% of votes. In Paris in 1947, Pierre de Gaulle, the brother of the General, became President of the municipal council, a post similar to mayor.[5] However, the RPF's performance in the Christian Democratic MRP strongholds of rural France was relatively mediocre. Parliamentarians hostile to the RPF delayed cantonal elections in the fear of another Gaullist breakthrough. The hostility of the media and the social events of 1947 limited the party's electoral success. The 1949 cantonal elections, albeit delayed in fear of an RPF breakthrough, produced another RPF victory (although smaller than the victory in the municipal elections). The 1951 election was a relative success for the RPF, but the electoral law (apparentements), created to favor the Third Force coalition (MRP, SFIO, RGR etc.) over the anti-Fourth Republic parties (RPF and the Communists), limited the Gaullist breakthrough. It obtained over 4 million votes (22.3%) and 117 seats. It had hoped for over 200 seats, which the apparentements that.
Political defeats
With only 117 seats, the RPF had little influence on decision making in the new Assembly. In 1952, 27 deputies voted in favor of Antoine Pinay's government before being excluded. Later, 45 other deputies left the Gaullist party. Following the loss of numerous cities, including Marseille and Lille, in the 1953 municipal elections, the party's decline started. Many people blamed its defeats on an authoritarian party leadership. De Gaulle asked the Gaullist deputies to abandon the name "RPF", then in June 1953, five Gaullist deputies joined Joseph Laniel's government. In 1954, the vote of Gaullists and Communists lead to the defeat of the European Defence Community treaty.
^Hitchcock, William I. (2008). The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945–Present. Knopf Doubleday. p. 77.
^O'Meara, Michael (2013). New Culture, New Right: Anti-Liberalism in Postmodern Europe (Second ed.). Arktos. p. 28.
^William George Andrews, Stanley Hoffmann (editors), The Impact of the Fifth Republic on France, page 6 (State University of New York Press, 1981). ISBN0-87395-440-8
^Martin Kolinsky, Continuity and Change in European Society: Germany, France and Italy Since 1870, page 172 (Redwood Burn Limited, 1974). ISBN0-85664-151-0
^Ton van der Eyden, Public Management of Society: Rediscovering French Institutional Engineering in the European Context, Volume 1, page 102, (Amsterdam: IOS Press, 2003). ISBN1-58603-291-7
^Vishnu Bhagwan, Vidya Bhushan, World Constitutions - A Comparative Study, page 432 (Sterling Publishers, 2008, eighth revised edition). ISBN81-207-1937-9
^Kahler, Miles (1984). Decolonization in Britain and France: The Domestic Consequences of International Relations. Princeton University Press. p. 91. ISBN978-1-4008-5558-2.
May 04, 2023
rally, french, people, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, febr. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Rally of the French People news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Rally of the French People French Rassemblement du Peuple Francais RPF was a French political party led by Charles de Gaulle Rally of the French People Rassemblement du peuple francaisPresidentJacques FoccartFounderCharles de GaulleFounded14 April 1947 1947 04 14 Dissolved13 September 1955 1955 09 13 Succeeded byNational Centre of Social RepublicansHeadquartersParisMembership 1948 500 000IdeologyFrench nationalismSouverainismGaullismConservatismPolitical positionRight wing 1 2 Colours Blue white redNational Assembly 1951 121 625Party flagPolitics of FrancePolitical partiesElections Contents 1 Foundation 2 Electoral record 3 Political defeats 4 Leadership 5 See also 6 ReferencesFoundation EditThe RPF was founded by Charles de Gaulle in Strasbourg on 14 April 1947 3 one year after his resignation from the presidency of the provisional government and four months after the proclamation of the Fourth Republic It advocated a constitutional revision establishing a presidential government For de Gaulle the regime of the parties which characterized the parliamentary system did not permit the advent of a strong and efficient state However in French Republican culture democracy and parliamentary sovereignty were inseparable De Gaulle was accused of wanting to establish a Bonapartist government with himself as the single dominant ruler 4 As de Gaulle also opposed the parties on the basis that they served particular interests and divided the nation he wanted the RPF to be a rally not a political party and allowed members of other parties except Communists and former Vichy regime supporters to join without compromising their other membership but this hope was never realized By 1948 the party counted half a million members just behind the Communist Party The RPF was able to gain the support of Maurrasien royalists of the Action Francaise leftist republicans such as Andre Malraux moderates Christian democrats such as Edmond Michelet radicals such as Jacques Chaban Delmas and Michel Debre and even socialists and communists Nevertheless most of its voters came from the right wing electorate Electoral record EditThe party enjoyed success in municipal elections 1947 capturing the cities of Lille Marseille Bordeaux with Jacques Chaban Delmas Strasbourg Rennes Versailles Le Mans and Nancy with over 35 of votes In Paris in 1947 Pierre de Gaulle the brother of the General became President of the municipal council a post similar to mayor 5 However the RPF s performance in the Christian Democratic MRP strongholds of rural France was relatively mediocre Parliamentarians hostile to the RPF delayed cantonal elections in the fear of another Gaullist breakthrough The hostility of the media and the social events of 1947 limited the party s electoral success The 1949 cantonal elections albeit delayed in fear of an RPF breakthrough produced another RPF victory although smaller than the victory in the municipal elections The 1951 election was a relative success for the RPF but the electoral law apparentements created to favor the Third Force coalition MRP SFIO RGR etc over the anti Fourth Republic parties RPF and the Communists limited the Gaullist breakthrough It obtained over 4 million votes 22 3 and 117 seats It had hoped for over 200 seats which the apparentements that Political defeats EditWith only 117 seats the RPF had little influence on decision making in the new Assembly In 1952 27 deputies voted in favor of Antoine Pinay s government before being excluded Later 45 other deputies left the Gaullist party Following the loss of numerous cities including Marseille and Lille in the 1953 municipal elections the party s decline started Many people blamed its defeats on an authoritarian party leadership De Gaulle asked the Gaullist deputies to abandon the name RPF then in June 1953 five Gaullist deputies joined Joseph Laniel s government In 1954 the vote of Gaullists and Communists lead to the defeat of the European Defence Community treaty On 13 September 1955 the party was officially dissolved 6 The Gaullist deputies founded the National Centre of Social Republicans without the backing of de Gaulle 7 Most would go on to form the Union for the New Republic and help create the Fifth Republic in 1958 Leadership Edit1947 1951 Jacques Soustelle 1952 1954 Louis Terrenoire 1954 1955 Jacques FoccartSee also EditRally for FranceReferences Edit Hitchcock William I 2008 The Struggle for Europe The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent 1945 Present Knopf Doubleday p 77 O Meara Michael 2013 New Culture New Right Anti Liberalism in Postmodern Europe Second ed Arktos p 28 William George Andrews Stanley Hoffmann editors The Impact of the Fifth Republic on France page 6 State University of New York Press 1981 ISBN 0 87395 440 8 Martin Kolinsky Continuity and Change in European Society Germany France and Italy Since 1870 page 172 Redwood Burn Limited 1974 ISBN 0 85664 151 0 Ton van der Eyden Public Management of Society Rediscovering French Institutional Engineering in the European Context Volume 1 page 102 Amsterdam IOS Press 2003 ISBN 1 58603 291 7 Vishnu Bhagwan Vidya Bhushan World Constitutions A Comparative Study page 432 Sterling Publishers 2008 eighth revised edition ISBN 81 207 1937 9 Kahler Miles 1984 Decolonization in Britain and France The Domestic Consequences of International Relations Princeton University Press p 91 ISBN 978 1 4008 5558 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rally of the French People amp oldid 1117745182, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
