1876 French legislative election

The 1876 general election to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower chamber of the National Assembly of the French Third Republic under the French Constitutional Laws of 1875, was held on 20 February and 5 March 1876.

1876 French legislative election

20 February and 5 March 1876
All 533 seats to the Chamber of Deputies 267 seats needed for a majority
Registered	9,472,613
Turnout	7,370,426 (77.8%)
Leader Jules Dufaure Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte Louis Buffet Party Republicans Parties Opportunist Republicans Republican Union Centre-left Far Left Bonapartists Monarchists Parties Orléanists Legitimists Leader's seat Charente-Inférieure Corse Vosges (lost) Seats won 393 76 64 Seat change 171 56 332 Popular vote 5,445,128 1,056,517 886,589 Percentage 73.7% 14.3% 12.0% Swing 38.8% 11.2% 50%
Prime Minister before election Louis Buffet Monarchist Elected Prime Minister Jules Dufaure Republican Left

The result was a victory for the Republicans. President Patrice MacMahon subsequently invited Jules Simon, who declared himself "resolutely republican and resolutely conservative", to form a government, but dismissed him on 16 May 1877, precipitating the Seize Mai crisis and further elections.[1]

Results

 Summary of the 20 February and 5 March election results

Parties and coalitions			Votes	%	Seats
		Republican Left	2,674,540	36.2	193
		Republican Union	1,359,435	18.4	98
		Centre-left	664,941	9.0	48
		Radical left			27
Government coalition			5,445,128	73.7	393
		Bonapartists	1,056,517	14.3	76
		Orléanists	554,117	7.5	40
		Legitimists	332,470	4.5	24
		Constitutional monarchists			22
		Clericals			15
Conservative opposition			1,943,105	23.3	140
	Independents				15
Total			7,388,234	100	533
Source: Roi et President

1. Gildea, R., Children of the Revolution, London, 2008, p. 252-253

External links

• Map of Deputies elected in 1876 according to their group in the House, including overseas (in french)