Socialist Republican Union
사회주의공화연합
A moderate socialist party of the late French Third Republic formed on 3 November 1935 by the merger of three small parties situated between the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO) and the Radical Party. It joined the Popular Front and had ministers in the Blum government, and later in the Daladier and Reynaud governments. It became dormant in 1940 and was not revived after the Liberation.
In depth
The party consolidated into one organisation the Socialist Republican current that had existed since the 1890s between the Marxist SFIO and the Radical-Socialists. Its components were the neosocialist Socialist Party of France (Parti socialiste de France), the French Socialist Party (Parti socialiste français) and the Republican-Socialist Party. After Renaudel's death in the spring of 1935, Marcel Déat, leader of the neosocialists, negotiated with the two Socialist Republican parties, forming a combined parliamentary group that summer and a formal party at a congress in Pantin on 3 November. In their joint declaration the three parties pledged to defend the Republic against dictatorial fascisms and totalitarian dogmatisms, overcome the economic crisis and save the peace.
In the 1936 election the party hoped for a breakthrough as a midpoint between Radicalism and orthodox Marxian socialism, but the formation of the Popular Front made that offer redundant. Its deputies fell from 47 before the election to 27, and the neosocialist wing was hit hardest, Déat losing his seat. It joined the Popular Front coalition and sent Maurice Viollette, Pierre Viénot and Paul Ramadier into the Blum government.
Its participation in the third Daladier government of 1938–1939 helped end the alliance between Radicals and Socialists, and it stayed in the Daladier and Reynaud governments until 1940. Its last congress was held in May 1939 and it became dormant in 1940. During the war some members, such as Joseph Paul-Boncour, refused to vote full powers to Pétain, while others, such as Déat, collaborated. The party was not revived after the Liberation, and most members joined the SFIO or the Rally of the Republican Left.