1906 French legislative election

1906 French legislative election

6–20 May 1906

All 585 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
293 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Ferdinand Sarrien Jacques Piou Auguste Isaac
Alliance Left Bloc Conservatives
Parties
Progressives
Seats won 357 108 66
Seat change Increase 19 Decrease 16 Decrease 61
Popular vote 4,115,530 2,571,765 1,238,048
Percentage 46.70% 29.18% 14.05%
Swing Increase 2.06pp Increase 1.97pp Decrease 13.16pp

Prime Minister before election

Ferdinand Sarrien
Radical-Socialist Party

Elected Prime Minister

Ferdinand Sarrien
Radical-Socialist Party

Legislative elections were held in France on 6 and 20 May 1906. The elections produced an increased majority for the governing coalition between the Radicals (PRRRS) and the left Republicans (ARD), which had held power under the premierships of Maurice Rouvier and Ferdinand Sarrien since January 1905.

Sarrien resigned on 20 October for reasons of health. Georges Clemenceau, also a Radical, replaced him, and remained premier until July 1909, after which he went on to become one of the longest-serving French Prime Ministers. The Bloc des gauches formally dissolved with Clemenceau's coming to power.

Electoral System

By the law of 13 February 1889, French legislative elections would take place utilising a first past the post system to elect one deputy in each constituency to the Chamber of Deputies, with some arrondissements being divided into multiple constituencies, though most containing only one.

Results

Party Votes % Seats
Radical-Socialist Party 2,514,508 28.53 132
Independent Radicals 692,029 7.85 115
Conservatives (incl. ALP) 2,571,765 29.18 78
Nationalist Party 30
Democratic Republican Alliance 703,912 7.99 90
Progressives 1,238,048 14.05 66
French Section of the Workers' International 877,221 9.95 54
Independent Socialists 205,081 2.33 20
Others 9,924 0.11 0
Total 8,812,488 100.00 585
Registered voters/turnout 11,341,062
Source: Rois et Presidents, France-Politique