1973 French Legislative Election

4 March and 11 March 1973 · The Fifth Republic · 491 seats, 246 for a majority

In order to end the May 1968 crisis, President Charles de Gaulle dissolved the National Assembly and his party, the Gaullist Party Union of Democrats for the Republic (UDR), won the absolute majority of the seats in the May 1968 elections. However, the failure of his 1969 constitutional referendum led him to resign.

Prime Minister before

—

Prime Minister (continued)

—

Largest force

UDR

272 of 491 seats

Turnout

81.2%

The result

Sort by

UDR

Pierre Messmer · 34.7% of votes · -82 seats

272

seats

François Mitterrand · +45 seats

102

seats

PCF

Georges Marchais · 21.4% of votes · +39 seats

seats

Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber (PR), · -3 seats

seats


UDR	Pierre Messmer	272	-82	8 242 661	34.7%	—
PS	François Mitterrand	102	+45	—	—	—
PCF	Georges Marchais	73	+39	5 085 108	21.4%	—
MR	Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber (PR),	30	-3	—	—	—

14 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.