DE GAULLISTS LEADING

Chronicle (Levin), 9 November 1948, Page 5

DE GAULLISTS LEADING

(N.Z.P.A.-

— , Reuter

Communists Ousted From l^iper House

Copyright)

Received Monday, \ p.m. PARIS, Nov. 8. The elections for France 5s Council of the Republic has been a great suecess for General de Gaulle, says Reuter 5s Paris eorrespondent. The country now has an Upper House distinetly inclined to the Right and a Lower House distinctly inclined to the Left. ' " Among the elected was General de Gaulle 5s brother, Pierre de Gaulle, Mayor of Paris, who will probably be a eandidate for the Council Presidency. Those defeated included the Food Minister, M. Yvon Coude de Foresto, and the Secretary Of State for Budge, M. T. Alain Poher, both popular Republicans. The voting took place, in Metropoiitan France, Algeria, Tunisia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and the Reunion Islands. De Ganllists won six out of seven seats in Algeria but were defeatejl in Tunisia. The heaviest losers were tfie Communists who have already slumped from 84 seats to 16 and the Popular Republicans who have fallen from 75 to 14. The Socialists are, holding their own. The Radic.als who refused to link up with General de Gaulle, improved their position mainly at the expense of the Popular Republicans and Communists. ! I The Daily MaiPs Paris.' eorrespondent says the impl'ieations of General de Gaulle 5s victory are: — Pirstly, the defeat of two Ministers as the aftermath to the coal strike, may force a Cahinet crisis. Secondly, the Communists are no longer a force 5f importance in the Upper House. Thirdl^, there is likely to he a headon collision between the Upper House dominated hy General de Gaulle and the Lower House with its middle oi the road Coalition Government. The Daily Mail eorrespondent adds that the defeat of the Communists does not neeessarily mean that their strength among the Frenclt people is waning as the peeuliarities of the voting system may not disclose the Communist hoia on the electorate as a whole. The Times5 Paris eorrespondent says the voting is important ' as a sign ot the country 5s collective opinion but the political consequenees cannot be seen until later for some eandidate^ elected on the de Gaullist lists have other political affiliations. Others affiliated to the de Gaullists stand as independents and a number of Radicals 'are pledged to the &de Gaullists5 policy. The real composition of the Council will not be known until Parliament reassembles on November 16 and the political j)arties have had the opportunity to express themselves. Meanwhile it is clear for the iirsf time since' inception that the de Gaullists have a sizeable Parliamentary representation which will almost certainlv have an effect upon the political situation.