There have been a number of threads in the past dealing with the OAS' assassination of de Gaulle in 1962. Gaston Monnerville, a black descendant from French Guinea, would have become interim president. But none of these threads have addressed the possibility of Monnerville running for his own term, as Poher did. How likely is it that Monnerville can win an election, and what would he do as President? (aside from the bog-standard "anyone but de Gaulle would have done this re:EEC or NATO")
Gaston Monnerville, President of France
- Thread starter Plumber
- Start date
If De Gaulle is killed at Petit-Clamart, Monnerville becomes acting President. The presidential election takes place in September or early October according to the original provisions of the 1958 Constitution: the Président is elected by an electoral college (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_presidential_election,_1958), not directly by the people. In this situation, I'm not sure Monnerville would be a candidate - he might see that as not compatible with his duty as Acting President. Prime minister Pompidou (in office since April) has no parliamentary experience and his only legitimity lies in the fact that De Gaulle appointed him. Michel Debré, the former PM, on the other hand, could be a standard bearer for the Gaullists. And then there is Antoine Pinay, the former Finance Minister. There is no doubt in my mind: if Pinay is a candidate in 62, he's elected.
Monnerville, on the other hand, could succeed him in 69. Would France (or the electoral college) elect a black man President? That is the question.
Monnerville, on the other hand, could succeed him in 69. Would France (or the electoral college) elect a black man President? That is the question.
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I'm not sure if France, whether by popular vote or by electoral college, would elect Monnerville. But assuming they did, what would be his policies?
What's important to understand is that if you take De Gaulle out of the equation in 62, you end up with a very different Fifth Republic, especially if Pinay is De Gaulle's successor. No popular election of the President, to begin with. In fact you're likely to get a more efficient version of the Fourth Republic, with a President much less involved in the day-to-day governing.
With Pinay and Monnerville at the Élysée, you'll probably have France staying in NATO integrated command, no veto to the UK's membership of the European Community.
But a lot would depend on how the political parties would organize themselves in these 60's without De Gaulle. The Gaullists are likely to implode; there might be an alliance between the center and the Socialists, leaving the Communist Party isolated on the left as it was throughout the Fourth Republic...
I actually posted something along those lines in the thread about Alternate Présidents And Prime Ministers: https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=4273273#post4273273
With Pinay and Monnerville at the Élysée, you'll probably have France staying in NATO integrated command, no veto to the UK's membership of the European Community.
But a lot would depend on how the political parties would organize themselves in these 60's without De Gaulle. The Gaullists are likely to implode; there might be an alliance between the center and the Socialists, leaving the Communist Party isolated on the left as it was throughout the Fourth Republic...
I actually posted something along those lines in the thread about Alternate Présidents And Prime Ministers: https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=4273273#post4273273
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Then his successor is elected directly by the people and Monnerville doesn't have a chance - especially since he was a vocal opponant to the constitutional reform.
Monnerville called De Gaulle's 1962 referendum to change the Constitution (and to institute the direct popular election of the President) "une forfaiture" (the word is difficult to translate: it means a crime against the law, an abuse of authority). Although he was opposed to the reform in itself, his argument (supported by many scholars) was that De Gaulle's referendum was unconstitutional. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_presidential_election_referendum,_1962
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