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{{Short description|none}}
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox election
{{Infobox legislative election
| election_name = 1958 French legislative election
| country = France
| country = France
| type = legislative
| previous_election = [[1956 French legislative election|1956]]
| next_election = [[1962 French legislative election|1962]]
| ongoing = no
| seats_for_election = All 576 seats in the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]]
| previous_election = 1956 French legislative election
| previous_year = 1956
| majority_seats = 290
| election_date = 23 November 1958 (first round)<br>{{nowrap|30 November 1958 (second round)}}
| next_election = 1962 French legislative election
| next_year = 1962
| first_election = yes

| seats_for_election = All 576 seats to the [[French National Assembly]] <br /> 289 seats were needed for a majority
| party1 = [[National Centre of Independents and Peasants|CNIP]] & moderates
| election_date = 23 and 30 November 1958
| leader1 = [[Roger Duchet]]
| turnout = 77.1% ({{decrease}} 5.7 [[Percentage point|pp]]) (1st round)
| seats1 = 132
| image1 = [[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F015892-0010, Charles de Gaulle (cropped 2).jpg|150x150px]]
| percentage1 = 19.97
| leader1 = [[Charles de Gaulle]]

| party1 = Union for the New Republic
| party2 = French Communist Party
| leaders_seat1 =
| leader2 = [[Maurice Thorez]]
| last_election1 = 22 seats
| seats1 = '''189'''
| seats2 = 10
| percentage2 = 18.94
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 167

| popular_vote1 = 3,603,958 ({{ordinal|1}} round) <br /> '''4,769,052''' ({{ordinal|2}} round)
| party3 = [[Union for the New Republic|UNR]] & Gaullists
| percentage1 = 17.6% ({{ordinal|1}} round) <br /> ''' 26.4%''' ({{ordinal|2}} round)
| leader3 = [[Charles de Gaulle]]
| image2 = <div style="width:100%;"><span style="line-height:150px; vertical-align:center; text-align:center; color:{{party color|National Centre of Independents and Peasants}}; font-size:38px;"> '''{{party shortname|National Centre of Independents and Peasants}}'''</span></div>
| leader2 = ''none''
| seats3 = 189
| percentage3 = 17.58
| party2 = National Centre of Independents and Peasants

| leaders_seat2 =
| last_election2 = 95 seats
| seats2 = 132
| seat_change2 = {{increase}} 37
| popular_vote2 = ''' 4,092,600''' ({{ordinal|1}} round) <br /> 4,250,083 ({{ordinal|2}} round)
| percentage2 = ''' 19.9%''' ({{ordinal|1}} round) <br /> 23.6% ({{ordinal|2}} round)
| image3 =[[File:Pierre Pflimlin (12173103323).jpg|150x150px]]
| leader3 = [[Pierre Pflimlin]]
| party3 = Popular Republican Movement
| leaders_seat3 = [[Bas-Rhin's 8th constituency|Bas-Rhin-8th]]
| last_election3 = 71 seats
| seats3 = 57
| seat_change3 = {{decrease}} 14
| popular_vote3 = 2,387,788 ({{ordinal|1}} round) <br /> 1,365,064 ({{ordinal|2}} round)
| percentage3 = 11.6% ({{ordinal|1}} round) <br /> 7.5% ({{ordinal|2}} round)
| image4 =[[File:Guy Mollet Archief.PNG|150x150px]]
| leader4 = [[Guy Mollet]]
| party4 = French Section of the Workers International
| party4 = French Section of the Workers International
| leader4 = [[Guy Mollet]]
| leaders_seat4 = [[Pas-de-Calais's 1st constituency|Pas-de-Calais-1st]]
| last_election4 = 95 seats
| seats4 = 40
| seats4 = 40
| percentage4 = 15.45
| seat_change4 = {{decrease}} 55

| popular_vote4 = 3,167,354 ({{ordinal|1}} round) <br /> 2,484,417 ({{ordinal|2}} round)
| party5 = [[Radical Party (France)|PR]], [[:fr:Centre républicain|CR]] & dissidents
| percentage4 = 15.5% ({{ordinal|1}} round) <br /> 13.8% ({{ordinal|2}} round)
| image5 =
| colour5 = FFBF00
| leader5 = [[Félix Gaillard]]
| leader5 = [[Félix Gaillard]]
| party5 = Radical Party (France)
| leaders_seat5 = [[Charente's 2nd constituency|Charente-2nd]]
| last_election5 = 77 seats
| seats5 = 37
| seats5 = 37
| percentage5 = 13.15
| seat_change5 = {{decrease}} 40

| popular_vote5 = 2,695,287 (1st round) <br /> 1,398,409 (2nd round)
| party6 = Popular Republican Movement
| percentage5 = 12.9% (1st round) <br /> 7.7% (2nd round)
| leader6 = [[Pierre Pflimlin]]
| image6 = [[File:USSR stamp M.Thorez 1965 6k.jpg|150x150px]]
| seats6 = 57
| leader6 = [[Maurice Thorez]]
| percentage6 = 11.65
| party6 = French Communist Party

| leaders_seat6 = [[Seine|Seine-50th]]
| party7 = Far-right
| last_election6 = 150 seats
| seats6 = 10
| leader7 = –
| seats7 = 1
| seat_change6 = {{decrease}} 140
| percentage7 = 3.27
| popular_vote6 = 3,882,204 (1st round) <br /> 3,741,384 (2nd round)

| percentage6 = 18.9% (1st round) <br /> 20.7% (2nd round)
| title = [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister]]
| title = [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister]]
| before_election = [[Charles de Gaulle]]
| before_election = [[Charles de Gaulle]]
| before_party = Union for the New Republic
| before_party = Union for the New Republic
| after_election = [[Michel Debré]]
| after_election = [[Michel Debré]]
| after_party = Union for the New Republic
| after_party = Union for the New Republic
}}{{Politics of France}}
}}

{{Politics of France}}
Legislative elections took place on 23 and 30 November 1958 to elect the first [[French National Assembly|National Assembly]] of the [[French Fifth Republic]].{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=253-266 }}
Legislative elections were held in France on 23 and 30 November 1958 to elect the first [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]] of the [[French Fifth Republic]].{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=253-266 }}


Since 1954, the [[French Fourth Republic]] had been mired in the [[Algerian War]].{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=26-44 }} In May 1958, [[Pierre Pflimlin]], a Christian-Democrat, became Prime Minister.{{sfn |Laponce |1961 |pp=1-2 }} He was known to be in favour of a negotiated settlement with the Algerian nationalists.{{sfnm |1a1=Laponce |1y=1961 |1pp=9-10 |2a1=Macridis |2a2=Brown |2y=1960 |2pp=60-61 }}
Since 1954, the [[French Fourth Republic]] had been mired in the [[Algerian War]].{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=26-44 }} In May 1958, [[Pierre Pflimlin]], a Christian-Democrat, became Prime Minister.{{sfn |Laponce |1961 |pp=1-2 }} He was known to be in favour of a negotiated settlement with the Algerian nationalists.{{sfnm |1a1=Laponce |1y=1961 |1pp=9-10 |2a1=Macridis |2a2=Brown |2y=1960 |2pp=60-61 }}
On 13 May riots broke out in Algiers, with the complicity of the army.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=62 }} A rebel government seized power in [[Algiers]] in order to defend "French Algeria". The next day, General [[Jacques Massu|Massu]] demanded the return to power of General [[Charles de Gaulle]].{{sfnm |1a1=Watson |1y=2003 |1pp=123-129 |2a1=Macridis |2a2=Brown |2y=1960 |2pp=81-91 }}


On 13 May, riots broke out in Algiers, with the complicity of the army in what is known as the [[May 1958 crisis in France]].{{sfn|Macridis|Brown|1960|p=62}} A rebel government seized power in [[Algiers]] in order to defend "French Algeria". The next day, General [[Jacques Massu|Massu]] demanded the return to power of General [[Charles de Gaulle]].{{sfnm |1a1=Watson |1y=2003 |1pp=123-129 |2a1=Macridis |2a2=Brown |2y=1960 |2pp=81-91 }}
The rebellious generals took control of [[Corsica]] threatening to conduct an assault on Paris, involving [[paratrooper]]s and armoured forces based at [[Rambouillet]].{{sfnm |1a1=Watson |1y=2003 |1pp=123-129 |2a1=Macridis |2a2=Brown |2y=1960 |2pp=81-91 }} In Paris, the political leaders were trying to find a compromise.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=92-97 }} On 1 June De Gaulle replaced Pflimlin to lead a government of national unity and nominated as Ministers of State (Vice-Prime Ministers) Pierre Pflimlin ([[Popular Republican Movement]], MRP), [[Guy Mollet]] ([[French Section of the Workers' International]] (SFIO), [[Louis Jacquinot]] ([[National Center of Independents and Peasants]], CNIP) and [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny]].{{sfnm |1a1=Laponce |1y=1961 |1pp=12-13 |2a1=Macridis |2a2=Brown |2y=1960 |2p=154}} He obtained the right to develop a new Constitution.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=117 }} Only the Communists and some center-left politicians such as [[Pierre Mendès-France]] and [[François Mitterrand]], opposed this "coup against the Republic".{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=92-97 }}{{sfn |Mitterrand |1964 }}


The rebellious generals took control of [[Corsica]] threatening to conduct an assault on Paris, involving [[paratrooper]]s and armoured forces based at [[Rambouillet]].{{sfnm |1a1=Watson |1y=2003 |1pp=123-129 |2a1=Macridis |2a2=Brown |2y=1960 |2pp=81-91 }} In Paris, the political leaders were trying to find a compromise.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=92-97 }} On 1 June, returning from his 12 years out of power since his abrupt resignation as Head of the [[Provisional Government of the French Republic]] in 1946, De Gaulle replaced Pflimlin to lead a government of national unity and nominated as Ministers of State (Vice-Prime Ministers) Pierre Pflimlin ([[Popular Republican Movement]], MRP), [[Guy Mollet]] ([[French Section of the Workers' International]] (SFIO), [[Louis Jacquinot]] ([[National Center of Independents and Peasants]], CNIP) and [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny]].{{sfnm |1a1=Laponce |1y=1961 |1pp=12-13 |2a1=Macridis |2a2=Brown |2y=1960 |2p=154}} He obtained the right to develop a new Constitution.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=117 }} Only the Communists and some center-left politicians such as [[Pierre Mendès-France]] and [[François Mitterrand]], opposed this "coup against the Republic".{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=92-97 }}{{sfn |Mitterrand |1964 }} This opposition came to a head the day De Gaulle took office with a 200,000 strong demonstration taking place in Paris to oppose the unprecedented power given to De Gaulle. However, these oppositions were then met with counter demonstrations with a series of car honking stand off from Parisians occurring at [[Champs Elysées|the Avenue des Champs Elysées]] that very same night. Further demonstrations between both partisans occurred in other cities including [[Toulouse]] and [[Bordeaux]].
On 28 September the new Constitution was approved in a [[1958 French constitutional referendum|referendum]] in the [[French Union]] by 82.6% of all voters, and in metropolitan France by 79.3% of voters. The Fifth Republic was born. The [[two-round system]] was re-established for the legislative elections.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=210-236, 335-358 }} The Gaullists created the [[Union for the New Republic]] which became the largest parliamentary group. Their opponents were crushed. The small number of left-wing MPs elected may be explained by divisions among left-leaning parties between supporters and opponents to the Fifth Republic: the two-round ballot tends to reward parties which are able to form alliances with each other.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=249-266 }}


On 28 September the new constitution was approved in a [[1958 French constitutional referendum|referendum]] in the [[French Union]] by 83% of all voters, and in metropolitan France by 79% of voters. The Fifth Republic was born. The [[two-round system]] was re-established for the legislative elections.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=210-236, 335-358 }} The Gaullists created the [[Union for the New Republic]] which became the largest parliamentary group. Their opponents received vastly less seats with in particular the PCF losing 137 seats compared to 1956. The small number of left-wing deputies elected may be explained by divisions among left-leaning parties between supporters and opponents to the Fifth Republic: the two-round ballot tends to reward parties which are able to form alliances with each other.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=249-266 }} As such, De Gaulle's new party formed a coalition with the CNIP to form a new government.
On 21 December de Gaulle was elected [[President of France]] by an [[electoral college]].{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=182, 270 }} His Justice Minister [[Michel Debré]] became Prime Minister.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=152, 273}} The pro-Fifth Republic center-left parties (SFIO and [[Radical Party (France)|Radical Party]]) left the presidential majority.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=242-246 }}{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=253-266}} This established the first gaullist centre-right government.


On 21 December de Gaulle was elected [[President of France]] by an [[electoral college]].{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=182, 270 }} His Justice Minister [[Michel Debré]] became Prime Minister.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=152, 273}} The pro-Fifth Republic center-left parties (SFIO and [[Radical Party (France)|Radical Party]]) left the presidential majority.{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=242-246 }}{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |pp=253-266}} This established the first Gaullist centre-right government.
==Results (Metropolitan France){{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=258 |ps=, N.B.: Unofficial and partly reconstructed }}==
[[File:Assemblée nationale Ie législature.svg|center]]
{{election table|title=}}
|-
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;vertical-align:top;" rowspan=2 colspan=3 width=600 |Parties and coalitions
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=2 |1st round
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;" colspan=2 |2nd round
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9" rowspan=2|Total seats
|-
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Votes
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |%
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Votes
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |%
|-
|style="background-color:#0000C8"|
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Union for the New Republic]] (''Union pour la nouvelle République'') and [[Gaullism|Gaullists]]
| style="text-align:right;" | UNR
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,603,958
| style="text-align:right;" | 17.6
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,769,052
| style="text-align:right;" | 26.4
| style="text-align:right;" | 189
|-
|style="background-color:#1E90FF"|
| style="text-align:left;" | [[National Center of Independents and Peasants]] (''Centre national des indépendants et paysans'') and Moderates
| style="text-align:right;" | CNIP
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,092,600
| style="text-align:right;" | 19.9
| style="text-align:right;" | 4,250,083
| style="text-align:right;" | 23.6
| style="text-align:right;" | 132
|-
|style="background-color:#00CCCC"|
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Popular Republican Movement]] (''Mouvement républicain populaire'') and Christian Democrats
| style="text-align:right;" | MRP
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,387,788
| style="text-align:right;" | 11.6
| style="text-align:right;" | 1,365,064
| style="text-align:right;" | 7.5
| style="text-align:right;" | 57
|-
|style="background-color:#E75480"|
| style="text-align:left;" | [[French Section of the Workers International]] (''Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière'')
| style="text-align:right;" | SFIO
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,167,354
| style="text-align:right;" | 15.5
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,484,417
| style="text-align:right;" | 13.8
| style="text-align:right;" | 40
|-
|style="background-color:#FFBF00"|
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Radical Party (France)|Radical Party]] (''Parti radical''), Dissidents and Republican Center
| style="text-align:right;" | Rad
| style="text-align:right;" | 2,695,287
| style="text-align:right;" | 12.9
| style="text-align:right;" | 1,398,409
| style="text-align:right;" | 7.7
| style="text-align:right;" | 37
|-
|style="background-color:#FF0000"|
| style="text-align:left;" | [[French Communist Party]] (''Parti communiste français'')
| style="text-align:right;" | PCF
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,882,204
| style="text-align:right;" | 18.9
| style="text-align:right;" | 3,741,384
| style="text-align:right;" | 20.7
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|-
|style="background-color:#704214"|
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Far-right politics in France|Extreme Right]]
|
| style="text-align:right;" | 669,518
| style="text-align:right;" | 3.3
| style="text-align:right;" | -
| style="text-align:right;" | -
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
|-
|
| style="text-align:left;" | '''Total'''
|
| style="text-align:right;" | '''20,498,709'''
| style="text-align:right;" | '''99.7'''
| style="text-align:right;" |
| style="text-align:right;" | '''99.7'''
| style="text-align:right;" | '''466'''
|-
|
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=8 | Abstention: 22.9% (1st round)
|}


==Results (Metropolitan France)==
{{Bar box
{{Election results
|title=Popular vote (first round)
|party1=[[National Centre of Independents and Peasants]] and Moderates|votes1=4092600|seats1=|votes1_2=4250083|seats1_2=|totseats1=132
|titlebar=#ddd
|party2=[[French Communist Party]]|votes2=3882204|seats2=|votes2_2=3741384|seats2_2=|totseats2=10|sc2=
|width=600px
|party3=[[Union for the New Republic]] and Gaullists|votes3=3603958|seats3=|votes3_2=4769052|seats3_2=|totseats3=189|sc3=
|barwidth=350px
|party4=[[French Section of the Workers International]]|votes4=3167354|seats4=|votes4_2=2484417|seats4_2=|totseats4=40|sc4=
|bars=
|party5=[[Radical Party (France)|Radical Party]], Dissidents and [[:fr:Centre républicain|Republican Centre]]|votes5=2695287|seats5=|votes5_2=1398409|seats5_2=|totseats5=37|sc5=
{{Bar percent|CNIP|#1E90FF|19.90}}
|party6=[[Popular Republican Movement]] and Christian Democrats|votes6=2387788|seats6=|votes6_2=1365064|seats6_2=|totseats6=57|sc6=
{{Bar percent|PCF|#FF0000|18.90}}
|party7=Far-right|votes7=669518|seats7=|totseats7=1|sc7=
{{Bar percent|UNR|#0000C8|17.60}}
|source=Macridis & Brown{{sfn |Macridis |Brown |1960 |p=258 |ps=, N.B.: Unofficial and partly reconstructed }}
{{Bar percent|SFIO|#E75480|15.50}}
{{Bar percent|Rad|#FFBF00|12.90}}
{{Bar percent|MRP|#00CCCC|11.60}}
{{Bar percent|ER|#704214|3.30}}
}}
{{Bar box
|title=Popular vote (second round)
|titlebar=#ddd
|width=600px
|barwidth=350px
|bars=
{{Bar percent|UNR|#0000C8|26.40}}
{{Bar percent|CNIP|#1E90FF|23.60}}
{{Bar percent|PCF|#FF0000|20.70}}
{{Bar percent|SFIO|#E75480|13.80}}
{{Bar percent|Rad|#FFBF00|7.70}}
{{Bar percent|MRP|#00CCCC|7.50}}
{{Bar percent|ER|#704214|0.00}}
}}
{{Bar box
|title=Seats won
|titlebar=#ddd
|width=600px
|barwidth=350px
|bars=
{{Bar percent|UNR|#0000C8|40.56}}
{{Bar percent|CNIP|#1E90FF|28.33}}
{{Bar percent|MRP|#00CCCC|12.23}}
{{Bar percent|SFIO|#E75480|08.58}}
{{Bar percent|Rad|#FFBF00|07.94}}
{{Bar percent|PCF|#FF0000|02.15}}
{{Bar percent|ER|#704214|0.002}}
}}
}}


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{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Macridis |first1=Roy C |last2=Brown |first2=Bernard Edward |date=1960 |editor1-last=Long |editor1-first=Norton E. |title=The De Gaulle Republic: Quest For Unity |url=https://archive.org/details/degaullerepublic001371mbp |series=The Dorsey Series in Political Science |edition=1st |location=Homewood |publisher=The Dorsey Press |lccn=60-14048 |oclc=408387 |access-date=11 November 2014 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Macridis |first1=Roy C |last2=Brown |first2=Bernard Edward |date=1960 |editor1-last=Long |editor1-first=Norton E. |title=The De Gaulle Republic: Quest For Unity |url=https://archive.org/details/degaullerepublic001371mbp |series=The Dorsey Series in Political Science |edition=1st |location=Homewood |publisher=The Dorsey Press |lccn=60-14048 |oclc=408387 |access-date=11 November 2014 }}

* {{cite book |last1=Laponce |first1=J. A. |date=1961 |title=The government of the Fifth Republic: French Political Parties and the Constitution |url=https://archive.org/details/governmentoffif00lapo |url-access=registration |location=Berkeley, Los Angeles; London |publisher=University of California; Cambridge University |lccn=60-14656 |oclc=501634 |access-date=11 November 2014 |via=Internet Archive }}
* {{cite book |last1=Laponce |first1=J. A. |date=1961 |title=The government of the Fifth Republic: French Political Parties and the Constitution |url=https://archive.org/details/governmentoffif00lapo |url-access=registration |location=Berkeley, Los Angeles; London |publisher=University of California; Cambridge University |lccn=60-14656 |oclc=501634 |access-date=11 November 2014 |via=Internet Archive }}

* {{cite book |last1=Watson |first1=William E. |date=2003 |title=Tricolor and Crescent: France and the Islamic World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o4vrUbMK5eEC |series=Perspectives on the twentieth century |edition=10th |location=Westport |publisher=Praeger |isbn=0-275-97470-7 |issn=1538-9626 |lccn=2002030336 |oclc=50322732 |access-date=11 November 2014 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Watson |first1=William E. |date=2003 |title=Tricolor and Crescent: France and the Islamic World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o4vrUbMK5eEC |series=Perspectives on the twentieth century |edition=10th |location=Westport |publisher=Praeger |isbn=0-275-97470-7 |issn=1538-9626 |lccn=2002030336 |oclc=50322732 |access-date=11 November 2014 }}

* {{cite book |last1=Mitterrand |first1=François |date=1964 |title=Le Coup d'Etat permanent |language=fr |location=Paris |publisher=Plon }}
* {{cite book |last1=Mitterrand |first1=François |date=1964 |title=Le Coup d'Etat permanent |language=fr |location=Paris |publisher=Plon }}

* {{cite web |title=Les évènements amenant de Gaulle au pouvoir {{!}} INA |url=https://www.ina.fr/ina-eclaire-actu/video/afe85007883/les-evenements-amenant-de-gaulle-au-pouvoir |website=Institut National de l'audiovisuel |access-date=12 March 2024 |language=fr}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


{{French elections}}{{Charles de Gaulle}}{{DEFAULTSORT:French Legislative Election, 1958}}
{{French elections}}
{{Charles de Gaulle}}
[[Category:Legislative elections in France|1958]]

[[Category:1958 elections in France|Legislative Election]]
[[Category:November 1958 events in Europe]]
[[Category:Legislative elections in France]]
[[Category:1958 elections in Europe|France]]
[[Category:1958 elections in France|Legislative]]
[[Category:November 1958 events in Europe|France]]

Revision as of 04:52, 15 June 2024

1958 French legislative election
France
← 1956 23 November 1958 (first round)
30 November 1958 (second round)		 1962 →
All 576 seats in the National Assembly
290 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Vote % Seats
CNIP & moderates Roger Duchet 19.97 132
PCF Maurice Thorez 18.94 10
UNR & Gaullists Charles de Gaulle 17.58 189
SFIO Guy Mollet 15.45 40
PR, CR & dissidents Félix Gaillard 13.15 37
MRP Pierre Pflimlin 11.65 57
Far-right – 3.27 1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Charles de Gaulle
UNR		 Michel Debré
UNR
This article is part of a series on
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Legislative elections were held in France on 23 and 30 November 1958 to elect the first National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic.[1]

Since 1954, the French Fourth Republic had been mired in the Algerian War.[2] In May 1958, Pierre Pflimlin, a Christian-Democrat, became Prime Minister.[3] He was known to be in favour of a negotiated settlement with the Algerian nationalists.[4]

On 13 May, riots broke out in Algiers, with the complicity of the army in what is known as the May 1958 crisis in France.[5] A rebel government seized power in Algiers in order to defend "French Algeria". The next day, General Massu demanded the return to power of General Charles de Gaulle.[6]

The rebellious generals took control of Corsica threatening to conduct an assault on Paris, involving paratroopers and armoured forces based at Rambouillet.[6] In Paris, the political leaders were trying to find a compromise.[7] On 1 June, returning from his 12 years out of power since his abrupt resignation as Head of the Provisional Government of the French Republic in 1946, De Gaulle replaced Pflimlin to lead a government of national unity and nominated as Ministers of State (Vice-Prime Ministers) Pierre Pflimlin (Popular Republican Movement, MRP), Guy Mollet (French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), Louis Jacquinot (National Center of Independents and Peasants, CNIP) and Félix Houphouët-Boigny.[8] He obtained the right to develop a new Constitution.[9] Only the Communists and some center-left politicians such as Pierre Mendès-France and François Mitterrand, opposed this "coup against the Republic".[7][10] This opposition came to a head the day De Gaulle took office with a 200,000 strong demonstration taking place in Paris to oppose the unprecedented power given to De Gaulle. However, these oppositions were then met with counter demonstrations with a series of car honking stand off from Parisians occurring at the Avenue des Champs Elysées that very same night. Further demonstrations between both partisans occurred in other cities including Toulouse and Bordeaux.

On 28 September the new constitution was approved in a referendum in the French Union by 83% of all voters, and in metropolitan France by 79% of voters. The Fifth Republic was born. The two-round system was re-established for the legislative elections.[11] The Gaullists created the Union for the New Republic which became the largest parliamentary group. Their opponents received vastly less seats with in particular the PCF losing 137 seats compared to 1956. The small number of left-wing deputies elected may be explained by divisions among left-leaning parties between supporters and opponents to the Fifth Republic: the two-round ballot tends to reward parties which are able to form alliances with each other.[12] As such, De Gaulle's new party formed a coalition with the CNIP to form a new government.

On 21 December de Gaulle was elected President of France by an electoral college.[13] His Justice Minister Michel Debré became Prime Minister.[14] The pro-Fifth Republic center-left parties (SFIO and Radical Party) left the presidential majority.[15][1] This established the first Gaullist centre-right government.

Results (Metropolitan France)

PartyFirst roundSecond roundTotal
seats
Votes%Votes%
National Centre of Independents and Peasants and Moderates4,092,60019.974,250,08323.60132
French Communist Party3,882,20418.943,741,38420.7810
Union for the New Republic and Gaullists3,603,95817.584,769,05226.48189
French Section of the Workers International3,167,35415.452,484,41713.8040
Radical Party, Dissidents and Republican Centre2,695,28713.151,398,4097.7737
Popular Republican Movement and Christian Democrats2,387,78811.651,365,0647.5857
Far-right669,5183.271
Total20,498,709100.0018,008,409100.00466
Source: Macridis & Brown[16]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Macridis & Brown 1960, pp. 253–266.
  2. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, pp. 26–44.
  3. ^ Laponce 1961, pp. 1–2.
  4. ^ Laponce 1961, pp. 9–10; Macridis & Brown 1960, pp. 60–61.
  5. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, p. 62.
  6. ^ a b Watson 2003, pp. 123–129; Macridis & Brown 1960, pp. 81–91.
  7. ^ a b Macridis & Brown 1960, pp. 92–97.
  8. ^ Laponce 1961, pp. 12–13; Macridis & Brown 1960, p. 154.
  9. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, p. 117.
  10. ^ Mitterrand 1964.
  11. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, pp. 210–236, 335–358.
  12. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, pp. 249–266.
  13. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, p. 182, 270.
  14. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, p. 152, 273.
  15. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, pp. 242–246.
  16. ^ Macridis & Brown 1960, p. 258, N.B.: Unofficial and partly reconstructed

References

  • Macridis, Roy C; Brown, Bernard Edward (1960). Long, Norton E. (ed.). The De Gaulle Republic: Quest For Unity. The Dorsey Series in Political Science (1st ed.). Homewood: The Dorsey Press. LCCN 60-14048. OCLC 408387. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  • Mitterrand, François (1964). Le Coup d'Etat permanent (in French). Paris: Plon.
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