The popular front in France: history and significance

National front in France was one of the Central political forces before the Second world war. The actions of the coalition of left parties has seriously affected the future of France and Europe. Many of the decisions of the Parliament determined the French position before the Nazi invasion. Because the views on the activity front is extremely polar, historians and politicians still debate regarding the rating of this political force.

Prerequisites

National front in France came to power on the wave of revolutionary sentiment in Europe. In the early twentieth century, philosophers and politicians began to actively discuss a new political system - socialism. Began to form associations and parties. The first time they had a serious political force and was, rather, a sort of literary clubs. However, the number of followers of leftist ideologies grew with each passing year. The most radical organizations used terrorist methods of struggle against the bourgeoisie. On the eve of the First world war had already created several of the parties that, in addition to direct action, began to get into the parliaments of their countries. In France, Russia and Ireland created a vast Communist underground. However, the plans of the socialists tore the First world war. French society was concerned about the protection of their land and consolidate around the government. But soon the war was over.

Poverty, unemployment, the social gap between the workers and the bourgeoisie was increasingly grown. In the end, it led to mass protests and strikes. France has always been considered a country of revolutions. It is here for the first time overthrew the absolute monarchy and proclaimed the Republic.

Establishment of the people's front in France

The Revolution in the Russian Empire and the proclamation of Soviet power intensified socialists around the world. Now socialism and communism were not only on paper but in life. In the twenties had created the Communist international. This structure regulates left-wing forces around the world. Then there was the wave of the rise of the masses actively participated in actions of the Communists. Therefore, a strategy was developed enterprises all left the organization in a coalition. But then there was a split. The popular front in France ceased to be one. The Communists criticized the socialists and anarchists did not want to cooperate with "statists". However, that all changed with the events in Germany. The national socialists came to power and have become a method of terror to suppress left-wing activists.

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Coalition

In the thirty-fourth year the Communist international has revised his opinion. The popular front in France began to gather again. It includes all the major trade unions and left-wing unions. The danger of fascism rallied the motley crowd into a single coalition. The popular front had worked even with the petty-bourgeois parties, who stood on the anti-fascist positions. The Communists and socialists became for the first time after the split going to demonstrate and protest. In contrast, the radical right-wing forces began to organize riots and disturbances. The center of the boil was Paris. In winter, thirty-fourth in response to the right-a threat to the General Confederation of labour has announced a major strike. It was supported by the Communists. A week later the whole country was covered by this campaign. After that, the protest movement only grew. As an act of the General struggle against fascism, the popular front finally United into a political force.

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For the thirty-sixth year of increasing active popular front in France led to his immense popularity among the population. Coalition won the most votes in the election. Because the socialist party received the largest percentage of all votes, the new government headed by their representative. But the election front did not stop the protest movement. On the contrary, they became even more active. Strikes spread throughout France.

Reform

The Workers took the company, large capital were subject to heavy taxes. By summer, the popular front government in France banned the fascist party. Then began a large-scale reform. In the interests of workers was a mandatory paid annual leave. Legally limited to the number of working hours per week. However, the maximum permissible duration of the day shift were not identified, as happened in the Soviet Union. Also greatly expanded women's rights.

Nationalization

Radically changed the legislative basis of relations between workers and employers. The Parliament has implemented a program of mandatory community service. Began the nationalization of industry (mainly military). Was fully nationalised railway. Reforms were made in the sphere of education. The year lasted the duration of compulsory schooling. It was created a separate Ministry of culture and sports, Academy of arts.

In Addition to partial-nationalization of military industries, was adopted rearmament program. Changed the system of taxation. Small businesses pay two percent of the profits, and big - six. In fact, it was nationalized by the French Bank, although de jure it was never fixed. The tax assessed as major assets and profits of the shareholders. The significance of the popular front in France it is difficult to overestimate. In fact, they controlled most areas in the state. Bold reforms with the approval of the workers perceived, the popularity of the government grew.

The collapse of the coalition

However, despite all the reforms, the Parliament is almost no control of the credit-financial mechanism. The big capitalists feared for their status due to employment law changes and new tax system. Therefore, in order to protect his fortune began its output abroad. Of the thirty-seventh year, the outflow of Finance was immense. Inflation began. Production fell. In the end the government came to the conclusion that it is necessary to slow down the reform process. Leon Blum resigned. But the crisis remains.

The Radicals, whose candidate led the Parliament tried to implement the austerity program that has not produced any results. In the end, they were also removed from power. The decline has affected the military industry. The popular front in France and Spain formed an Alliance. Communists and radicals required to provide the Republicans with military support. However, the Parliament was inclined to neutrality.

End of the Board

The Resignation of the second Parliament resulted in the return of Leon Blum to the post of Prime Minister. He reiterated his call to establish a strong coalition to defeat crisis. The socialists presented their new programme, which was to bring France out of the economic hole. In addition to austerity measures, it included items raising taxes on big business and state control over its output abroad. But for such serious steps the government needed extraordinary powers. The Senate refused to provide such. Some radical elements offered by military and combat units to push through a new amendment, which essentially meant the transition to the dictatorship. Leon Blum refused from such a step. In the end, he was again dismissed, and the Prime Minister was Edouard Daladier. The split in the coalition intensified. The Communists actually stood up in opposition to Daladier. A number of his reforms leveled the conquest of the thirty-sixth year. The peak of dissatisfaction was the thirty-eighth year. Then the French government signed a non-aggression agreement with Hitler. And a year later was banned by the Communist party.

The importance of the creation of the popular front in France cannot be overestimated. The coalition did not give the Nazis to seize power, as happened in Germany and Italy. However, the lack of control over the movement of capital deprived her of the opportunity to carry out reforms.