I"m reading a social history of Paris in the post-war years, and at one point there’s considerable discussion of the referendum on May 5, 1946, how it became a major turning point for being pro-Communist or anti-Communist, Communists being “oui”, Roman Catholic hierarchy coming out for the “non”, etc. Ultimately, the “non” side won.
However, the authors nowhere actually explain what was in issue in the referendum. Was it a new constitution?
It was a new constitution…the constitution for the Fourth Republic. It was then amended, and presented again in October, when it passed. The main differences between the May and October constitutions was that the May constitution had a weak president and a unicameral legislature. The October constitution strengthened the president’s powers and added a second chamber.
Thanks! 8 minutes!
so, a couple of follow-ups, if I may - why did the Communists favour the original version, and others oppose it? what amendments were made that led to its later adoption?
This might be of interest: French Constitution of 27 October 1946 - Wikipedia
thanks!
As to why the Communists favored the original version, a large reason was because they had drafted it. The legislative assembly elected in November of 1945 had a left wing majority (of the 455 seats, the Communist party had 159, the Popular Republican Movement, which was the Christian Democrats, had 150, and the "French Section of the Worker’s International, the socialist party, had 146. Together, they made up the “Three Parties Alliance”, and formed a government and wrote the constitution.
So, the version that passed had stronger checks and balances?