In 1913, the field of to become the successor of President Fallière was crowded: the favourite of the election, Léon Bourgeois, who, however refused to enter the race, for health reason despite the sollicitations of his political friends.
Two days after Bourgeoi's refusal, Raymond Poincaré entered the race.
Raymond Poincaré was challenged, however, by the left wing of the Assembly, under the lead of George Clemenceau, and from the right wing by Alexandre Rigot. Clemenceau actively campaigned in favour of his friend Jules Pams. Alexandre Rigot, who had apparently believed that Poincaré would support him if Bourgeois wouldn't run, was utterly disappointed by Poincaré's candidacy, and decided to throw his hat in the ring, hoping for a surprise success.
The race was made even more complicated by the entry of Paul Deschanel, who had been re-elected at the head of the National Assembly, and the candidacy of Antonin Dubost, re-elected President of the Senate.
A preparatory reunion took place, giving Pams a slight edge over Poincaré in the second and third ballot. Deschanel, Rigot and Dubost withdrew from the race.
Clemenceau asked Poincaré to retire his candidacy in favour of Jules Pams, but an important fration of the Congress (146 Representative and Senators) hadn't been invited to the preparatory reunion , and Poincaré refused to give up.
The first round of the official ballot hold on january 17th in Versailles gave Poincaré a wide lead over Pams (
[More...]In 1913, the field of to become the successor of President Fallière was crowded: the favourite of the election, Léon Bourgeois, who, however refused to enter the race, for health reason despite the sollicitations of his political friends.
Two days after Bourgeoi's refusal, Raymond Poincaré entered the race.
Raymond Poincaré was challenged, however, by the left wing of the Assembly, under the lead of George Clemenceau, and from the right wing by Alexandre Rigot. Clemenceau actively campaigned in favour of his friend Jules Pams. Alexandre Rigot, who had apparently believed that Poincaré would support him if Bourgeois wouldn't run, was utterly disappointed by Poincaré's candidacy, and decided to throw his hat in the ring, hoping for a surprise success.
The race was made even more complicated by the entry of Paul Deschanel, who had been re-elected at the head of the National Assembly, and the candidacy of Antonin Dubost, re-elected President of the Senate.
A preparatory reunion took place, giving Pams a slight edge over Poincaré in the second and third ballot. Deschanel, Rigot and Dubost withdrew from the race.
Clemenceau asked Poincaré to retire his candidacy in favour of Jules Pams, but an important fration of the Congress (146 Representative and Senators) hadn't been invited to the preparatory reunion , and Poincaré refused to give up.
The first round of the official ballot hold on january 17th in Versailles gave Poincaré a wide lead over Pams (with 429 votes to 327). The SFIO members decided to vote M. Vaillant (63 votes), and diminished Pams chances to wi even more. The second ballot finally saw the victory of Poincaré with 483 votes to Pam's 296 and Vaillant's 69.
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