French presidential election, 1873

French presidential election, 1873

24 May 1873

Candidate Duc de Magenta Jules Grévy Party Legitimist Republicans Electoral vote 390 1 Percentage 99.74%[1] 0.16%

President before election Adolphe Thiers Republicans Elected President Duc de Magenta Legitimist

A presidential election took place in France on May 24, 1873 following the resignation of incumbent President Adolphe Thiers.

After 1871 legislative election Legitimists and Orleanists monarchists hold a large majority over Republicans and Bonapartists.

Unlike as it was during Second French Republic, when President was elected by popular vote (see French presidential election, 1848), during Third Republic this was passed to the parliament.

There were two candidates to succeed Thiers:

• Marshal Patrice de Mac-Mahon (Legitimist, supported by the monarchist in order to gain an ally to restore monarchy)
• Former President of the Chamber of Deputies Jules Grévy (Democratic Republican Alliance, supported by the Republican forces)

Results (sole round):^[2]

Candidate		Party	Votes
	Patrice de Mac-Mahon	Legitimists	390
	Jules Grévy	Republicans	1
Abstentions			1

Aftermath

Unable to help in restore of monarchy after monarchist loses and streghten of Republican forces, Mac-Mahon resigned in 1879 and Grevy was elected to replace him without a significant opposition.

References

1. Elections Présidentielles de la 3 ème République Rois & Presidents. (French)
2. "Assemblée Nationale - Séance de nuit". La Presse (in French). 26 May 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 13 May 2016.