Anatomy of the French Crisis

The “Common Program of the Left” was adopted in 1972 by the French “Common Front” of the Communist Party, Socialist Party, and small Left Radical Party. It was the “platform,” as we would say, for the Common Front in the 1974 presidential campaign in which the Front’s candidate, François Mitterrand, lost by less than 2 per cent, and for this year’s nationwide local elections that the Front won.

Last Spring the Communists urged revision of the Common Program in preparation for the National Assembly election due in March 1978. The Socialists weren’t eager to tamper with it, but had to go along, since some sections had become obviously obsolescent. The Left Radicals were in no position to object. So in July representatives of the three parties began discussions about a revised edition. During the night of September 23-24 the discussions were broken off. They have not been renewed. The open break was triggered by the issue of nationalization.

JB

About the Author

James Burnham

The “Common Program of the Left” was adopted in 1972 by the French “Common Front” of the Communist Party, Socialist Party, and small Left Radical Party. It was the “platform,” as we would say, for the Common Front in the 1974 presidential campaign in which the Front’s candidate, François Mitterrand, lost by less than 2 per cent, and for this year’s nationwide local elections that the Front won.

Last Spring the Communists urged revision of the Common Program in preparation for the National Assembly election due in March 1978. The Socialists weren’t eager to tamper with it, but had to go along, since some sections had become obviously obsolescent. The Left Radicals were in no position to object. So in July representatives of the three parties began discussions about a revised edition. During the night of September 23-24 the discussions were broken off. They have not been renewed. The open break was triggered by the issue of nationalization.