French legislative election, 1881

French legislative election, 1881

21 August and 4 September 1881

All 545 seats to the Chamber of Deputies   Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Léon Gambetta Jules Ferry Eugène Rouher Party Republican Union Republican Left Bonapartist Leader's seat Paris Vosges Puy-de-Dôme Seats won 204 168 46 Seat change 74 38 58 Percentage 37.43% 30.83% 8.44% Swing 12.48 5.88 11.52

Composition of the Chamber of Deputies

Prime Minister before election Jules Ferry Republican Left Elected Prime Minister Léon Gambetta Republican Union

The 1881 general election was held on 21 August and 4 September 1881. This election marked the collapse of the right compared to the 1877 election.

It was a great success for the followers of Léon Gambetta, whom President Jules Grévy appointed premier two months after the election. His government only lasted 73 days, however, before falling over the issue of electoral reform.^[1] This led to three short-lived minority governments, until Jules Ferry was able to form a second government in February 1883 with the support of Gambetta's Republican Union.

70.55% of eligible voters participated.

Results

Parliamentary Groups

Affiliation	Party		Seats
Left
		Radical-Socialists and Socialists	46
Centre-Left
		Republican Union	204
		Republican Left[2]	168
		Moderate Republicans[3]	39
Right
		Bonapartists	46
		Monarchists	42
Total			545

1. Gildea, R., Children of the Revolution, London, 2008, p. 254-255
2. Supporters of Jules Ferry, including Jules Grévy, Jules Favre, and Jules Simon
3. Liberal supporters of the Republic

Sources

• Roi et President