The Realignment of Political Forces in France

Abstract

Not surprisingly, the collapse of parliamentary democracy twice in less than a generation has left Frenchmen with little confidence in their traditional multiple party system. However, they are far from satisfied with the new forms that General de Gaulle has bestowed upon them. The result is a searching lor new approaches both within the old parties and outside in unions, study clubs, the press, and in academic and intellectual circles. Since the Algerian crisis is resolved, the need for unity to meet the threat of subversion is passed, and the nation is free to tackle its political structure. Any peaceful attempt to change things must be made within the institutions of the Fifth Republic. These are, intentionally, very different from the two previous republican constitutions that have served the country for the past century. The President is now a key figure with the power to designate the prime minister, dissolve parliament, and govern by decree when he considers an emergency to exist. His authority after the next presidential election will rest on his election by universal suffrage. Given the importance of the presidency and the reduced powers of parliament it is obvious that French politics will pivot around the presidential election, instead of the parliamentary election. The 1962 constitutional revision provided for two stages in the election: a first round between all candidates, and a runoff between two among the more favoured candidates. To compete with the Gaullist candidate, the parties of the left must either unite behind one man or forfeit the election. The new institutions, in the presidential elections at least, strike down the old multiple party structure and favour a two party system in the same way as the American electoral arrangements do. If there were simply a match between the new Gaullist institutions and the deeply-rooted French party system, past experi-