Abstract
The French Fourth Republic collapsed following the rise of the civil war in Algeria. Its lack of stability, which was a consequence of its parliamentary structure and the weaknesses of its parties, did not manage to survive this major crisis, and pointed out the need for a stronger executive regime. On average, the parties during the fourth republic represented only 15 % of the electorate a piece. The Communist party was actually the strongest at this time, accounting for between 20% and 25% of the vote. All the parties were focused on narrow interests and clienteles and governments were built of heterogeneous coalitions. Kirchheimer explained that a catch-all party abandoned attempts at the intellectual and moral encadrement of the working class, turning more fully for a wider audience and immediate electoral success . While the Fourth Republic never managed to contribute to the emergence of this type of party, the Fifth Republic wished by De Gaulle and adopted in September by about 80% of the French people, might have introduced a significant turn in the French party system. De Gaulle wanted a strong executive to face the crisis, in that respect; he needed a strong support in the Parliament. The foundation of the UNR, 'L'Union Pour la Nouvelle République' on October 1958 by De Gaulle's supporters such as Michel Debré and Jacques Chaban Delmas, showed an attempt to appeal broadly to all parts of the French electoral spectrum in the shape of the French Gaullist party.
