1988 French Legislative Election
5 and 12 June 1988 · The Fifth Republic · 577 seats, 289 for a majority
In 1986, the Socialist Party (PS) of President Mitterrand lost the legislative election. For the first time under the Fifth Republic, the President was forced to "cohabit" with a hostile parliamentary majority and cabinet.
Held in wartime. This election took place while the country was engaged in Western Sahara War (1975–1991). Conflicts →
Prime Minister before
Jacques Chirac
RPR
Prime Minister after
Michel Rocard
PS
Largest force
PS
262 of 577 seats
Turnout
65.7%
The result
| Share of the chamber | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Michel Rocard | 262 | +56 | 8 493 702 | 34.8% | — | |
| PCF | Georges Marchais | 27 | -8 | 2 765 761 | 11.3% | — | |
| FN | Jean-Marie Le Pen | 1 | -34 | — | — | — |
287 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.