1881 French legislative election

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.

1881 French legislative election

21 August and 4 September 1881
All 557 seats to the Chamber of Deputies 279 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	70.5
Leader Léon Gambetta Georges-Eugène Haussmann Party Republicans Parties Republican Union Republican Left Center-left Bonapartists Leader's seat Seine Corse (lost) Seats won 411 46 Seat change 98 58 Popular vote 5,414,808 610,422 Percentage 75.4% 8.5% Swing 15.4% 11.6%   Leader Louis Blanc Albert de Broglie Party Socialists and Radicals Monarchists Leader's seat Seine Not presented (Senator for Eure) Seats won 46 42 Seat change New 13 Popular vote 603,241 552,971 Percentage 8.4% 7.7% Swing New 2.9%
Prime Minister before election Jules Ferry Republican Left Elected Prime Minister Léon Gambetta Republican Union

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

 Summary of the 21 August and 4 September election results

Parties and coalitions			Votes	%	Seats
		Republican Union	2,678,678	37.3	170
		Republican Left	2,226,247	31.0	157
		Centre-left	509,882	7.1	44
Republican majority			5,414,808	75.4	411
		Bonapartists	610,422	8.5	44
		Legitimists and Clericals	552,971	7.7	38
		Orleanists			8
Conservative opposition			1,163,393	16.1	88
	Far left				48
	Radical left		603,241	8.4	47
	Socialists				1
Total			7,181,443	100	545
Source: Roi et President

1. Gildea, R., Children of the Revolution, London, 2008, p. 254-255

External links

• Map of Deputies elected in 1881 according to their group in the House, including overseas (in french)