French legislative elections of 1951

The legislative elections are held on June 17th 1951.

Context

These elections take place in a context of political crisis. Indeed majority in place, incarnated by the Third force gathering MRP, SFIO, the radical, UDSR and the moderate ones, unceasingly criticized because of the very strong dissensions in its center and of the " waltz of the ministères" that it maintains since its formation, fears to lose the elections vis-a-vis a French Communist party always so popular and especially vis-a-vis RPF, new party founded and directed by Charles de Gaulle in person, which gained bright successes at the time of the municipal elections of 1947 (40% of the votes cast) and asserts a million members since 1948.

To solve the problem, the leaders of the Third force make adopt a new electoral law, the Loi of the political alliances, which allows lists having made of the agreements before the elections to gain the entirety of the seats to be provided in a given department if the addition of their voices exceeds 50% of the votes cast, and this some are the scores of the other lists.

Results

PCF arrives at the head in term of votes, but loses 79 seats, and the RPF becomes the first party of the Parliament, without being able to prevent the forces united of the Third force to gain the elections, and this in spite of the collapse of the MRP, which loses 78 seats and more half of its electorate, failure from which it will never go back.

The majority, always so divided, meets from now on a savage opposition at its ends, more especially as it could be maintained in place only thanks to its Loi of the political alliances (PCF and the RPF not having allies with which they could be connected).

Figures

Poll: representation proportional plurinominale according to the method of the strongest remainder in 103 districts, in accordance with the Law of the political alliances: the lists which are " apparentées" before the election all the seats of the district gain if their added voices obtain the absolute majority of the votes cast. There are 627 seats to provide.

Voter turnout:

Results:

See too

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