French Political Instability
Unstable France and the Western Alliance
Causes of Recurrent Parliamentary Crises
Efforts to Achieve Greater Stability
Political instability in France has been a disturbing factor in inter-allied relationships in the past and may be an even more disturbing factor in the future. The reasons for French uncertainties and hesitations—the desire for firm assurances on the one hand while with-holding firm assurances on the other—are little understood in foreign countries.
At the same time, it is clear that the ability of the western powers to maintain a united front in forthcoming negotiations with Soviet Russia and on plans for consolidating the European defense system depends in large measure upon a strong and stable France. If she is to discharge her responsibilities under commitments jointly undertaken with Great Britain and the United States, her heads of state will need a firmer basis of support among the political parties and among the people of France than they have enjoyed at any time in the recent past.
Kaleidoscopic Cabinet Changes Since War
On Dec. 17, the French parliament meets at Versailles to elect a successor to Vincent Auriol, Socialist, whose seven-year term as first president of the Fourth Republic expires a month later. After the election, the present Laniel cabinet becomes a "caretaker government" and remains in that status until the new president is inaugurated on Jan. 17, 1954. The cabinet then submits its resignation and a new government, which may be little different from the present one, must obtain a vote of confidence in the National Assembly.
Mar. 03, 1978 French Parliamentary Elections
Feb. 14, 1973 French Elections, 1973
Apr. 10, 1968 French-American Relations
Nov. 24, 1965 Election of De Gaulle: Past and Future Policies
Nov. 20, 1963 French Policy Under De Gaulle
Feb. 20, 1963 France and the Alliance
Nov. 07, 1962 French Governmental Crisis
Mar. 10, 1960 Status of France
Sep. 15, 1955 Future of France in North Africa
Dec. 16, 1953 French Political Instability
Nov. 15, 1952 France and Germany in West European Defense
Jan. 29, 1947 Empire of France
Sep. 01, 1945 France in Transition
Aug. 08, 1944 Relations with France
Mar. 21, 1942 Relations with France
Apr. 10, 1934 Constitutional Reform in France
Jun. 30, 1929 The French Debt and the Young Plan
Apr. 27, 1928 The Briand-Kellogg Correspondence
Mar. 30, 1928 French National Elections - 1928
Aug. 24, 1926 French Currency and Exchange
Jun. 30, 1925 The Moroccan Problem
Jun. 17, 1925 The French Debt to the United States
Apr. 11, 1925 The French Financial Problem
May 07, 1924 The French National Elections
Sep. 21, 1923 French Reparation Policy in the Light of the Dariac Report
Regional Political Affairs: Europe