France is a democratic republic with political power divided between the President and Prime Minister. It has a wider range of political parties than the US, including those supporting communism and workers’ rights. The Rally for the Republic and Socialist Party are powerful parties, while the National Front is a right-wing nationalist party.
France is a representative democratic republic like the United States. France differs slightly in political organization, however, with the key difference being that political power in France is divided between the President and a Prime Minister, who leads the political party holding the majority in Parliament. Also, unlike the United States, France has more than two dominant political parties.
While political parties in France can be divided into right-wing and left-wing parties, the spectrum of political parties is much more widely represented than in the United States. The French government can conceivably take into account the views and wishes of a wide range of citizens. France also has a number of political parties with views supporting communism and workers’ rights. The goals of these parties are represented in Parliament, ensuring greater protection for the working class.
Historically, Rally for the Republic has probably been the most powerful political party in France. It typically took about a fifth of each election, and over time, several smaller parties aligned themselves with Rally for the Republic for more political influence. The Rally for the Republic was founded in 1976 by Jacques Chirac. In 2002, the political party merged with several other major political parties to form the Union for a Popular Movement.
The Union for a Popular Movement is a political party set up to support Jacques Chirac’s presidential candidacy. The merger included the Union for a French Democracy and the Liberal Democrats. Officially, the merger was intended to consolidate political power and foster cooperation between three often feuding political parties. Unofficially, the Union for a Popular Movement created a political party that would ensure Chirac’s victory and dominate Parliament. The Union for a Popular Movement is a moderate political party with many progressive political reforms to its credit.
Another powerful political party in France is the Socialist Party. In Europe, socialists are differentiated from communists, with many nations having substantial socialist majorities. The socialist party is committed to workers’ rights, access to health care and education for all citizens, as well as state support to citizens in need. The Socialist Party collaborates with other left and center political parties, including the Greens and the Radical Left, to advance its goals.
The National Front is a political party also active in France, especially at the regional level. The National Front is a right-wing nationalist political party that has been accused by detractors of being racist, anti-Semitic and far-right. The party promotes traditional French values, higher tariffs on imports, greater separation from Europe and the reinstatement of the death penalty. The National Front opposes immigration and liberal movements. While the National Party rarely wins seats nationwide, it wields power in some regions of France, particularly those grappling with immigration issues.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN