FRENCH PARTY SYSTEM
The French government was bedeviled by the existence and passion of many parties.(Finer)
FEATURES OF FRENCH PARTY SYSTEM:
1. MULTI PARTY SYSTEM:
Like India, in France also a multi- party system is in operation. There are as many as six major
political parties and a number of small political parties. All these parties contest elections and
play a significant role in the political life of France. The French are emotional by nature and
their allegiance to their respective parties is very deep.
2. CONSTITUTION RECOGNITION OF THE ROLE OF PARTIES:
Unlike the American Constitution which is totally silent about the role of political parties, the
French Constitution accepts the role of parties and political groups. Parties and political groups
play a part in the exercise of the right to vote. The right to form parties and their freedom of
action are unrestricted. They must respect the principles of national sovereignty and of
democracy.”
3. THE PRACTICE OF PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS:
Another feature of the French Party System is that after the elections, the members of the
Parliament combine together to form parliamentary groups. In each parliamentary group there
are a number of members belonging to different political parties. Frequently, the members
defect from one parliamentary group to another.
4. EXISTENCE OF REGIONAL PARTIES:
In France there are a number of regional political parties. They have no national organisation
and these work only in their respective regions.
5. POLITICAL DEFECTION AND FREQUENT CHANGES:
In another way, the French Party- System is similar to the Indian party system. In France also
the evil practice of political defections prevails. Frequently, the members of one political party
defect to another or other political parties. A number of political parties of France have similar
ideologies and that is why the members of one political party do not hesitate to defect to another
political party
6. LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES:
Almost all the French political parties can be categorized under two heads:
(i) Leftist Parties, and
(ii) Rightist Parties.
The Leftist Parties have socialist leanings. They favour state control over industry and state
intervention in the interest of the planned economy. The Rightist Parties are opposed to both
these measures. However, many rightist parties support state action for assisting small and
uneconomic producers. The Communist Party and the Socialist Party belong to the first group
and the Conservative Party and the Central Democratic Group belong to the second category.
The French government was bedeviled by the existence and passion of many parties.(Finer)
FEATURES OF FRENCH PARTY SYSTEM:
1. MULTI PARTY SYSTEM:
Like India, in France also a multi- party system is in operation. There are as many as six major
political parties and a number of small political parties. All these parties contest elections and
play a significant role in the political life of France. The French are emotional by nature and
their allegiance to their respective parties is very deep.
2. CONSTITUTION RECOGNITION OF THE ROLE OF PARTIES:
Unlike the American Constitution which is totally silent about the role of political parties, the
French Constitution accepts the role of parties and political groups. Parties and political groups
play a part in the exercise of the right to vote. The right to form parties and their freedom of
action are unrestricted. They must respect the principles of national sovereignty and of
democracy.”
3. THE PRACTICE OF PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS:
Another feature of the French Party System is that after the elections, the members of the
Parliament combine together to form parliamentary groups. In each parliamentary group there
are a number of members belonging to different political parties. Frequently, the members
defect from one parliamentary group to another.
4. EXISTENCE OF REGIONAL PARTIES:
In France there are a number of regional political parties. They have no national organisation
and these work only in their respective regions.
5. POLITICAL DEFECTION AND FREQUENT CHANGES:
In another way, the French Party- System is similar to the Indian party system. In France also
the evil practice of political defections prevails. Frequently, the members of one political party
defect to another or other political parties. A number of political parties of France have similar
ideologies and that is why the members of one political party do not hesitate to defect to another
political party
6. LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES:
Almost all the French political parties can be categorized under two heads:
(i) Leftist Parties, and
(ii) Rightist Parties.
The Leftist Parties have socialist leanings. They favour state control over industry and state
intervention in the interest of the planned economy. The Rightist Parties are opposed to both
these measures. However, many rightist parties support state action for assisting small and
uneconomic producers. The Communist Party and the Socialist Party belong to the first group
and the Conservative Party and the Central Democratic Group belong to the second category.
