Parti Radical De Gauche
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The Radical Party of the Left (, PRG) is a
social-liberal Social liberalism is a political philosophy and variety of liberalism that endorses social justice, social services, a mixed economy, and the expansion of civil and political rights, as opposed to classical liberalism which favors limited ...
political party in France This article contains a list of political parties in France. France has a Multi-party system, multi-party political system: one in which the number of competing political party, political parties is sufficiently large as to make it almost inevita ...
. A party in the
Radical Radical (from Latin: ', root) may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics *Classical radicalism, the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and Latin America in the 19th century *Radical politics ...
tradition, since 1972 the PRG has been a close ally of the major party of the
centre-left Centre-left politics is the range of left-wing political ideologies that lean closer to the political centre. Ideologies commonly associated with it include social democracy, social liberalism, progressivism, and green politics. Ideas commo ...
in
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, the
Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...
(, PS). After the 2017
presidential Presidential may refer to: * "Presidential" (song), a 2005 song by YoungBloodZ * Presidential Airways (charter), an American charter airline based in Florida * Presidential Airways (scheduled), an American passenger airline active in the 1980s * ...
and
legislative A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers ...
elections, negotiations to merge the PRG with the Radical Party (from which the PRG emerged in 1972) began and the refounding congress to reunite the parties into the
Radical Movement The Radical Movement (, MR), officially the Radical, Social and Liberal Movement (), was a liberal, radical and social-liberal political party in France. The party aimed at being an "alternative to the right–left paradigm". History The R ...
was held on 9 and 10 December 2017. However, a faction of ex-PRG members, including its last president
Sylvia Pinel Sylvia Pinel (; born 28 September 1977) is a French politician who served as a member of the National Assembly of France from 2016 to 2022, representing the 2nd constituency in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. Since 3 September 2016, she has ...
, split from the Radical Movement in February 2019 due to its expected alliance with
La République En Marche Renaissance (RE) is a political party in France that is typically described as liberal and centrist or centre-right. The party was originally known as (EM) and later (, LREM, LaREM or REM), before adopting its current name in September 2022 ...
in the
European elections Elections to the European Parliament take place every five years by universal adult suffrage; with more than 400 million people eligible to vote, they are the second largest democratic elections in the world after India's. Until 2019, 751 ...
and resurrected the PRG.


History

The party was formed in 1972 by a split from the Republican, Radical, and Radical-Socialist Party, once the dominant party of the
French Left The French Left () refers to communist, socialist, social democratic Social democracy is a Social philosophy, social, Economic ideology, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic ...
. It was founded by Radicals who opposed
Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber, often referred to as JJSS (13 February 19247 November 2006), was a French journalist and politician. He co-founded in 1953 with Françoise Giroud, and then went on to become president of the Radical Party in 19 ...
's
centrist Centrism is the range of political ideologies that exist between left-wing politics and right-wing politics on the left–right political spectrum. It is associated with moderate politics, including people who strongly support moderate policie ...
direction. They chose to join the Union of the Left and agreed to the Common Programme signed by the
Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...
(PS) and the
French Communist Party The French Communist Party (, , PCF) is a Communism, communist list of political parties in France, party in France. The PCF is a member of the Party of the European Left, and its Member of the European Parliament, MEPs sit with The Left in the ...
(PCF). At that time, the party was known as the Movement of the Radical Socialist Left (, MGRS), then as the Movement of Radicals of the Left (, MRG) after 1973. Led by
Robert Fabre Robert Fabre (; 21 December 1915 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron – 23 December 2006 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron) was a French politician and pharmacist. He was a founding member of the Left Radical Movement (MRG) in 1972 a ...
during the 1970s, the party was the third partner of the Union of the Left. Nevertheless, its electoral influence did not compare with those of its two allies, which competed for the leadership over the left.
Robert Fabre Robert Fabre (; 21 December 1915 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron – 23 December 2006 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron) was a French politician and pharmacist. He was a founding member of the Left Radical Movement (MRG) in 1972 a ...
sought to attract
left-wing Left-wing politics describes the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social ...
Gaullists Gaullism ( ) is a French political stance based on the thought and action of World War II French Resistance leader Charles de Gaulle, who would become the founding President of the Fifth French Republic. De Gaulle withdrew French forces from ...
to the party and gradually became close to President
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Valéry René Marie Georges Giscard d'Estaing (, ; ; 2 February 19262 December 2020), also known as simply Giscard or VGE, was a French politician who served as President of France from 1974 to 1981. After serving as Ministry of the Economy ...
, who nominated him as Mediator of the Republic in 1978. He and his followers were excluded from the party by those who strongly supported the alliance with the PS.
Michel Crépeau Michel Crépeau (; 30 October 1930, Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée – 30 March 1999, Paris) was a French centre-left politician. Born in 1930, barrister, he joined the Radical Party. When it split in 1972, he founded the Movement of Left Radic ...
was nominated by the party for the 1981 presidential election and obtained a disappointing 2.09% in the first round. He and his party in the runoff endorsed PS candidate
François Mitterrand François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was a French politician and statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, the longest holder of that position in the history of France. As a former First ...
, who eventually won. The MRG won 14 seats in the subsequent 1981 legislative election and participated in PS-led governments between 1981 and 1986 and again between 1988 and 1993. In the 1984 European elections, the MRG formed a common list with
Brice Lalonde Brice Lalonde (; born 10 February 1946) is a former green party leader in France, who ran for President of France in the Presidential elections, 1981. In 1988 he was named Minister of the Environment, and in 1990 founded the green Ecology Gen ...
's environmentalists and
Olivier Stirn Olivier is the French form of the given name Oliver. It may refer to: * Olivier (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Olivier (surname), a list of people * Château Olivier, a Bordeaux winery *Olivier, Louisiana, a rural popula ...
, a
centre-right Centre-right politics is the set of right-wing politics, right-wing political ideologies that lean closer to the political centre. It is commonly associated with conservatism, Christian democracy, liberal conservatism, and conservative liberalis ...
deputy. The list styled as the Radical and Ecologist Agreement won 3.32%, but no seats. The party resumed its customary alliance with the PS in the 1986 legislative election and supported President Mitterrand's 1988 reelection bid by the first round. At the beginning of the 1990s, under the leadership of the popular businessman
Bernard Tapie Bernard Roger Tapie (; 26 January 1943 – 3 October 2021) was a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Minister of City Affairs in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy. He was the manager of a group ...
the party benefited from an ephemeral upswing in its popularity while the governing SP was in disarray. The list led by Tapie won 12.03% and 13 seats of the votes in the
1994 European Parliament election The 1994 European Parliamentary election was a European election held across the 12 European Union member states in June 1994. This election saw the merge of the European People's Party and European Democrats, an increase in the overall numbe ...
. However, Tapie retired from politics due to his legal problems and the party, renamed the Radical Socialist Party (, PRS), returned to its lowest ebb. After the Radical Party opened legal proceedings against the PRS, it was forced to change its name to the Radical Party of the Left (, PRG). Between 1997 and 2002, it was a junior partner in
Lionel Jospin Lionel Robert Jospin (; born 12 July 1937) is a French politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002. Jospin was First Secretary of the French Socialist Party, First Secretary of the Socialist Party from 1995 to 1997 and th ...
's
Plural Left The Gauche Plurielle (French for ''Plural Left'') was a left-wing coalition in France, composed of the Socialist Party (''Parti socialiste'' or PS), the French Communist Party (''Parti communiste français'' or PCF), the Greens, the Left Radi ...
coalition government. In the 2002 presidential election, the PRG nominated its own candidate, former MEP and
French Guiana French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west ...
deputy
Christiane Taubira Christiane Marie Taubira (; born 2 February 1952) is a French politician who served as Minister of Justice of France in the governments of Prime Ministers Jean-Marc Ayrault and Manuel Valls under President François Hollande from 2012 until 20 ...
, for the first time since 1981. However, some members of the party including
Émile Zuccarelli Émile Zuccarelli (; born 4 August 1940 in Bastia, Upper Corsica) is a French politician from Corsica. He serves as honorary President of the Radical Party of the Left and is a former mayor of Bastia. Before his defeat in the 2007 French legisla ...
and PRG senator Nicolas Alfonsi supported
Jean-Pierre Chevènement Jean-Pierre Chevènement (; born 9 March 1939) ...
's candidacy. Taubira won 2.32% of the vote. Taubira gave her name to the 2001 law which declared the
Atlantic slave trade The Atlantic slave trade or transatlantic slave trade involved the transportation by slave traders of Slavery in Africa, enslaved African people to the Americas. European slave ships regularly used the triangular trade route and its Middle Pass ...
a
crime against humanity Crimes against humanity are certain serious crimes committed as part of a large-scale attack against civilians. Unlike war crimes, crimes against humanity can be committed during both peace and war and against a state's own nationals as well as ...
. In the
2007 presidential election This electoral calendar 2007 lists the national/federal direct elections held in 2007 in the de jure and de facto list of sovereign states, sovereign states and their list of dependent territories, dependent territories. Referendums are included ...
, while the party supported the PS candidate
Ségolène Royal Ségolène Royal (; born Marie-Ségolène Royal; 22 September 1953) is a French politician who took part in the 2007 French presidential election, losing to Nicolas Sarkozy in the second round. She was the first woman in France's history to r ...
, Bernard Tapie, who had been a leading figure in the PRG, supported
Nicolas Sarkozy Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sarközy de Nagy-Bocsa ( ; ; born 28 January 1955) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012. In 2021, he was found guilty of having tried to bribe a judge in 2014 to obtain information ...
. In the 2007 legislative election, the party won eight seats, including a seat in
French Guiana French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west ...
(Taubira) and
Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon Saint Pierre and Miquelon ( ), officially the Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (), is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, located near the Canadian province of ...
. The party split on Nicolas Sarkozy's constitutional reforms in 2008. Six deputies (
Gérard Charasse Gérard Charasse (26 March 1944 – 18 June 2023) was a French politician who a member of the National Assembly of France. He represented Allier's 4th constituency (from 1997 to 2012). Then major boundary changes in 2011 reduced Allier's parl ...
, Paul Giacobbi,
Annick Girardin Annick Girardin (; born 3 August 1964) is a French politician of the Radical Party who served as Minister of the Sea in the government of Prime Minister Jean Castex (2020–2022), Minister of Overseas France in the government of Prime Mini ...
,
Joël Giraud Joël Giraud (; born 14 October 1959) is a French politician who briefly served as Minister of Territorial Development (France), Minister of Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Authorities under Prime Minister Jean Castex in 2022. A ...
, Dominique Orliac and
Sylvia Pinel Sylvia Pinel (; born 28 September 1977) is a French politician who served as a member of the National Assembly of France from 2016 to 2022, representing the 2nd constituency in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. Since 3 September 2016, she has ...
) and three senators (
Jean-Michel Baylet Jean-Michel Baylet (born 17 November 1946 in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne) is a French politician, Senator, and former leader of the moderate center-left Radical Party of the Left. He is a RDSE Senator from the Tarn-et-Garonne department. He is al ...
, André Boyer and François Vendasi) opted to vote in favour, hence allowing for its passage. The PRG's then-president
Jean-Michel Baylet Jean-Michel Baylet (born 17 November 1946 in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne) is a French politician, Senator, and former leader of the moderate center-left Radical Party of the Left. He is a RDSE Senator from the Tarn-et-Garonne department. He is al ...
ran in the 2011 SP presidential primaries, the only non-PS candidate in the field, but was placed last with only 0.64% of the vote in the primary. The PRG supported
François Hollande François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. Before his presidency, he was First Secretary of the Socialist Party (France), First Secretary of th ...
, the eventual winner of the primaries and the
2012 presidential election This national electoral calendar for 2012 lists the national/ federal elections held in 2012 in all sovereign states and their dependent territories. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included. January *3–4 January: ...
. In the 2012 legislative election, the PRG won 12 seats. With four additional members, it formed its own parliamentary group in the
National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...
, the Radical, Republican, Democratic and Progressive group. Although the PRG remained a close and loyal ally of the PS, it has also cooperated with the small
Ecology Generation Ecology Generation () is one of the four green parties in France, along with The Ecologists (), the Independent Ecological Movement (), and Cap Écologie. Founded in 1990 by Brice Lalonde, Environment Minister, upon the suggestion of President ...
(GE) party since December 2011. In the 2014 European elections, the party received 13.98% of the vote on a joint list with the PS, electing one MEP
Virginie Rozière Virginie Rozière (; born 18 June 1976) is a French politician of the Radical Party of the Left (PRG) who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2014 until 2019. Early life and education Born in Montpellier, Rozière graduated f ...
, who joined the
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) is the Political groups of the European Parliament, political group in the European Parliament of the Party of European Socialists (PES). The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and ...
(S&D) group with PS MEPs. In the 2017 SP presidential primary, PRG candidate
Sylvia Pinel Sylvia Pinel (; born 28 September 1977) is a French politician who served as a member of the National Assembly of France from 2016 to 2022, representing the 2nd constituency in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. Since 3 September 2016, she has ...
received 2% of the vote in the first round election held on 22 January 2017. In the
2017 French legislative election Legislative elections in France, Legislative elections were held in France on 11 and 18 June 2017 (with different dates for voters overseas) to elect the 577 Member of Parliament (France), members of the 15th legislature of the French Fifth Rep ...
, the party only re-elected three MPs;
Annick Girardin Annick Girardin (; born 3 August 1964) is a French politician of the Radical Party who served as Minister of the Sea in the government of Prime Minister Jean Castex (2020–2022), Minister of Overseas France in the government of Prime Mini ...
,
Jeanine Dubié Jeanine Dubié (born 3 January 1958 in Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrénées) is a politician, a former member of the National Assembly of France, where she represented the 2nd constituency of the Hautes-Pyrénées from 2012 to 2022. Early life and educ ...
and
Sylvia Pinel Sylvia Pinel (; born 28 September 1977) is a French politician who served as a member of the National Assembly of France from 2016 to 2022, representing the 2nd constituency in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. Since 3 September 2016, she has ...
. In 2019, the party was relaunched. The party supported
Christiane Taubira Christiane Marie Taubira (; born 2 February 1952) is a French politician who served as Minister of Justice of France in the governments of Prime Ministers Jean-Marc Ayrault and Manuel Valls under President François Hollande from 2012 until 20 ...
in the
2022 French presidential election Presidential elections were held in France on 10 and 24 April 2022. As no candidate won a majority in the first round, a Two-round system, runoff was held, in which Emmanuel Macron defeated Marine Le Pen and was re-elected as President of France. ...
. Following the
2022 French legislative election Legislative elections in France, Legislative elections were held in France on 12 and 19 June 2022 to elect the 577 Deputy (France), members of the 16th National Assembly (France), National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic, Fifth Republic. Th ...
, the party's only deputy is
Olivier Falorni Olivier Falorni (born 27 March 1972) is a French politician. He was elected to the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012, representing La Rochelle in the 1st constituency of the department of Charente-Maritime. He was re-elected in 2017 and ...
representing Charente-Maritime's 1st constituency. He was elected in 2022 with 66.11% of the (second-round) vote in that constituency, and re-elected in 2024 with 74.71%. The PRG was the only
centre-left Centre-left politics is the range of left-wing political ideologies that lean closer to the political centre. Ideologies commonly associated with it include social democracy, social liberalism, progressivism, and green politics. Ideas commo ...
party on the French mainland with representation in the
National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...
to refuse to join the
leftist Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social hierarchies. Left-wing politi ...
electoral coalition
NUPES The New Ecological and Social People's Union (, NUPES) was a left-wing electoral alliance of political parties in France. Formed on May Day 2022, the alliance included La France Insoumise (LFI), the Socialist Party (PS), the French Communist Part ...
, headed by
Jean-Luc Mélenchon Jean-Luc Antoine Pierre Mélenchon (; born 19 August 1951) is a French politician who has been the ''de facto'' leader of La France Insoumise (LFI) since it was established in 2016. He was the Deputy (France), deputy in the National Assembly ( ...
, and in 2024 it formed part of
Emmanuel Macron Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 2017. He was Ministry of Economy and Finance (France), Minister of Economics, Industr ...
's Ensemble coalition.


Ideology

The PRG advocates
social liberalism Social liberalism is a political philosophy and variety of liberalism that endorses social justice, social services, a mixed economy, and the expansion of civil and political rights, as opposed to classical liberalism which favors limited g ...
,
classical radicalism Radicalism (from French ) was a political movement representing the leftward flank of liberalism between the late 18th and early 20th century. Certain aspects of the movement were precursors to a wide variety of modern-day movements, ranging f ...
,
secularism Secularism is the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on naturalistic considerations, uninvolved with religion. It is most commonly thought of as the separation of religion from civil affairs and the state and may be broadened ...
to its French extent known as ''
laïcité (; 'secularism') is the constitutional principle of secularism in France. Article 1 of the French Constitution is commonly interpreted as the separation of civil society and religious society. It discourages religious involvement in governmen ...
'',
progressivism Progressivism is a Left-right political spectrum, left-leaning political philosophy and Reformism, reform political movement, movement that seeks to advance the human condition through social reform. Adherents hold that progressivism has unive ...
,
European federalism A federal Europe, also referred to as the United States of Europe (USE) or a European federation, is a hypothetical scenario of European integration leading to the formation of a sovereign superstate (similar to the United States of America), ...
, and
individual freedom Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, and social outlook that emphasizes the intrinsic worth of the individual. Individualists promote realizing one's goals and desires, valuing independence and self-reliance, and ad ...
; it differs from the
social democrats Social democracy is a social, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achieving social equality. In modern practice, s ...
of the
Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...
mainly by its strong attachment to
private property Private property is a legal designation for the ownership of property by non-governmental Capacity (law), legal entities. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which is owned by a state entity, and from Collective ownership ...
. The party was a member of the
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE Party) is a European political party composed of 76 national-level parties from across Europe, mainly active in the European Union. The ALDE Party is affiliated with Liberal Interna ...
before 2012.


Factions

Under Baylet, the PRG's party line was centre-left, socially liberal and pro-European. Nevertheless, there were internal divisions in the party. Former cabinet minister and former deputy
Émile Zuccarelli Émile Zuccarelli (; born 4 August 1940 in Bastia, Upper Corsica) is a French politician from Corsica. He serves as honorary President of the Radical Party of the Left and is a former mayor of Bastia. Before his defeat in the 2007 French legisla ...
is a left-wing republican who strongly opposed
Corsican nationalism Corsican nationalism is the concept of a cohesive nation of Corsica and a national identity of its people. The Corsican autonomy movement stems from Corsican nationalism and advocates for further autonomy for the island, if not outright indep ...
and supported the no vote in the 2005 European constitutional referendum, positions much closer to
Jean-Pierre Chevènement Jean-Pierre Chevènement (; born 9 March 1939) ...
's
Citizen and Republican Movement The Citizen and Republican Movement ( French: ''Mouvement républicain et citoyen'') is a left-wing political party in France. The party replaced the Citizens' Movement (''Mouvement des citoyens'', MDC) in 2002. The previous party was founded b ...
(MRC). Similarly, Christiane Taubira supported the no vote in 2005 and endorsed
Arnaud Montebourg Arnaud Montebourg (; born 30 October 1962) is a French politician, lawyer and entrepreneur who served as Minister of Industrial Renewal from 2012 to 2014,Deputies A legislator, or lawmaker, is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are often elected by the people, but they can be appointed, or hereditary. Legislatures may be supra-nati ...
:
Olivier Falorni Olivier Falorni (born 27 March 1972) is a French politician. He was elected to the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012, representing La Rochelle in the 1st constituency of the department of Charente-Maritime. He was re-elected in 2017 and ...
( Charente-Maritime 1) * Former Ministers:
Annick Girardin Annick Girardin (; born 3 August 1964) is a French politician of the Radical Party who served as Minister of the Sea in the government of Prime Minister Jean Castex (2020–2022), Minister of Overseas France in the government of Prime Mini ...
,
Jacques Mézard Jacques Mézard (born 3 December 1947) is a French lawyer and politician of the Radical Party of the Left who has been serving as a member of the Constitutional Council since 2019. He previously served as Minister of Agriculture and Food in 2017 ...
* Former
Deputies A legislator, or lawmaker, is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are often elected by the people, but they can be appointed, or hereditary. Legislatures may be supra-nati ...
:
Stéphane Claireaux Stéphane Claireaux (born 23 June 1964) is a French politician. He has been Member of Parliament for Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon's 1st constituency since 2014, and served until 2022. Formerly of the Radical Movement, he has been a member of the r ...
(
Saint Pierre et Miquelon In Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Anglican, Oriental Ort ...
),
Jeanine Dubié Jeanine Dubié (born 3 January 1958 in Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrénées) is a politician, a former member of the National Assembly of France, where she represented the 2nd constituency of the Hautes-Pyrénées from 2012 to 2022. Early life and educ ...
(
Hautes-Pyrénées Hautes-Pyrénées (; Gascon/ Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'' awts piɾeˈnɛʊs ; alts piɾiˈneʊs ) is a department in the region of Occitania, southwestern France. The department is bordered by Pyrénées-Atlantiques to t ...
),
Sylvia Pinel Sylvia Pinel (; born 28 September 1977) is a French politician who served as a member of the National Assembly of France from 2016 to 2022, representing the 2nd constituency in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. Since 3 September 2016, she has ...
(
Tarn-et-Garonne Tarn-et-Garonne (; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania Regions of France, region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn (river), Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its n ...
) * Senators ( RDSE group):
Joseph Castelli Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...
(
Haute-Corse Haute-Corse (; , or ; ) is a department of France, consisting of the northern part of the island of Corsica. The corresponding departmental territorial collectivity merged with that of Corse-du-Sud on 1 January 2018, forming the single ter ...
),
Yvon Collin Yvon Collin (born 10 April 1944 in Montauban) is a former member of the Senate of France who served from 1988 to 2020. He represented the Tarn-et-Garonne department, and is a member of the Radical Party of the Left The Radical Party of the ...
(
Tarn-et-Garonne Tarn-et-Garonne (; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania Regions of France, region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn (river), Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its n ...
), Philippe Esnol (
Yvelines Yvelines () is a department in the western part of the Île-de-France region in Northern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,448,207.François Fortassin François Fortassin (2 August 1939 – 15 May 2017) was a French politician and a member of the Senate of France. He represented the Hautes-Pyrénées department and was a secretary of the Senate and a member of the Radical Party of the Left ...
(
Hautes-Pyrénées Hautes-Pyrénées (; Gascon/ Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'' awts piɾeˈnɛʊs ; alts piɾiˈneʊs ) is a department in the region of Occitania, southwestern France. The department is bordered by Pyrénées-Atlantiques to t ...
), Françoise Laborde (
Haute-Garonne Haute-Garonne (; , ; ''Upper Garonne'') is a department in the southwestern French region of Occitanie. Named after the river Garonne, which flows through the department. Its prefecture and main city is Toulouse, the country's fourth-largest. ...
),
Jacques Mézard Jacques Mézard (born 3 December 1947) is a French lawyer and politician of the Radical Party of the Left who has been serving as a member of the Constitutional Council since 2019. He previously served as Minister of Agriculture and Food in 2017 ...
(
Cantal Cantal (; or ) is a rural Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region of France, with its Prefectures in France, prefecture in Aurillac. Its other principal towns are Saint-Flour, Cantal, Saint-Flou ...
), Jean-Claude Requier ( Lot)


Popular support

The PRG remained rather weak on its own electorally, averaging around 2% of the vote (2002 presidential candidate
Christiane Taubira Christiane Marie Taubira (; born 2 February 1952) is a French politician who served as Minister of Justice of France in the governments of Prime Ministers Jean-Marc Ayrault and Manuel Valls under President François Hollande from 2012 until 20 ...
won 2.32% of the vote); which explains why the party depended on its stronger ally, the PS for support and parliamentary representation. Almost all of the party's deputies and local officials were elected with no official PS opposition. It retained some support among
middle class The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. C ...
voters and in traditional Radical areas in the
South West Southwest is a compass point. Southwest, south-west, south west, southwestern or south-western or south western may also refer to: * Southwest (direction), an intercardinal direction Geography *South West Queensland, Australia *South West (Weste ...
. The major exception was in
Corsica Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...
, where the party was historically the largest party on the non-
nationalist Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...
French Left The French Left () refers to communist, socialist, social democratic Social democracy is a Social philosophy, social, Economic ideology, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic ...
and remains so to its time of dissolution due to a tradition of political dynasties (such as the Giacobbi family) and the weak infrastructure of the PS on the island. Paul Giacobbi represented
Haute-Corse Haute-Corse (; , or ; ) is a department of France, consisting of the northern part of the island of Corsica. The corresponding departmental territorial collectivity merged with that of Corse-du-Sud on 1 January 2018, forming the single ter ...
in the National Assembly until he stood down at the 2017 elections (
Émile Zuccarelli Émile Zuccarelli (; born 4 August 1940 in Bastia, Upper Corsica) is a French politician from Corsica. He serves as honorary President of the Radical Party of the Left and is a former mayor of Bastia. Before his defeat in the 2007 French legisla ...
, an internal rival of Giacobbi and current mayor of
Bastia Bastia ( , , , ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Departments of France, department of Haute-Corse, Corsica, France. It is located in the northeast of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse. It also has the second-highest popu ...
, also represented the island in Paris until his 2007 defeat) and Senators Nicolas Alfonsi and François Vendasi represented the Corsican PRG in the Senate. Giacobbi is also
President of the General Council In France, the President of the Departmental Council (French language, French: ''Président du Conseil départemental'') is the locally elected head of the Departmental councils (France), departmental council, the assembly governing a Departments ...
of
Haute-Corse Haute-Corse (; , or ; ) is a department of France, consisting of the northern part of the island of Corsica. The corresponding departmental territorial collectivity merged with that of Corse-du-Sud on 1 January 2018, forming the single ter ...
. In metropolitan France, the PRG was able to sustain a long-lasting Radical tradition dating back to the
French Third Republic The French Third Republic (, sometimes written as ) was the system of government adopted in France from 4 September 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed during the Franco-Prussian War, until 10 July 1940, after the Fall of France durin ...
, most notably in the southwest or departments such as the
Eure-et-Loir Eure-et-Loir (, locally: ) is a French department, named after the Eure and Loir rivers. It is located in the region of Centre-Val de Loire. In 2019, Eure-et-Loir had a population of 431,575.Eure Eure ( ; ; or ) is a department in the administrative region of Normandy, northwestern France, named after the river Eure. Its prefecture is Évreux. In 2021, Eure had a population of 598,934.French Guiana French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west ...
by Taubira's
Walwari Walwari () is a political party in the French overseas department and region of French Guiana, founded in 1992 by Christiane Taubira and her husband Roland Delannon.Robert Fabre Robert Fabre (; 21 December 1915 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron – 23 December 2006 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron) was a French politician and pharmacist. He was a founding member of the Left Radical Movement (MRG) in 1972 a ...
(1972–1978) *
Michel Crépeau Michel Crépeau (; 30 October 1930, Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée – 30 March 1999, Paris) was a French centre-left politician. Born in 1930, barrister, he joined the Radical Party. When it split in 1972, he founded the Movement of Left Radic ...
(1978–1981) *
Roger-Gérard Schwartzenberg Roger-Gérard Schwartzenberg (born 17 April 1943) is a French politics, politician of the Radical Party of the Left (French: ''Parti Radical de Gauche'', PRG). Biography He has been a Member of the European Parliament (1979-1983), a Deputy ...
(1981–1983) *
Jean-Michel Baylet Jean-Michel Baylet (born 17 November 1946 in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne) is a French politician, Senator, and former leader of the moderate center-left Radical Party of the Left. He is a RDSE Senator from the Tarn-et-Garonne department. He is al ...
(1983–1985) * François Doubin (1985–1988) *
Yvon Collin Yvon Collin (born 10 April 1944 in Montauban) is a former member of the Senate of France who served from 1988 to 2020. He represented the Tarn-et-Garonne department, and is a member of the Radical Party of the Left The Radical Party of the ...
(1988–1989) *
Émile Zuccarelli Émile Zuccarelli (; born 4 August 1940 in Bastia, Upper Corsica) is a French politician from Corsica. He serves as honorary President of the Radical Party of the Left and is a former mayor of Bastia. Before his defeat in the 2007 French legisla ...
(1989–1992) * Jean-François Hory (1992–1996) *
Jean-Michel Baylet Jean-Michel Baylet (born 17 November 1946 in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne) is a French politician, Senator, and former leader of the moderate center-left Radical Party of the Left. He is a RDSE Senator from the Tarn-et-Garonne department. He is al ...
(1996–2016) *
Sylvia Pinel Sylvia Pinel (; born 28 September 1977) is a French politician who served as a member of the National Assembly of France from 2016 to 2022, representing the 2nd constituency in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. Since 3 September 2016, she has ...
(2016–2017) *
Guillaume Lacroix Guillaume Lacroix (born 11 February 1976) is a French politician serving as president of the Radical Party of the Left since 2019. He has been a member of the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes since 2021, and served as vice president of ...
(2019–present)


See also

*
European Radical Alliance The Group of the European Radical Alliance (ERA) was a heterogeneous political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1994 and 1999. It was formed by regionalist parties from the former Rainbow Group, although its largest and domin ...
*
French Left The French Left () refers to communist, socialist, social democratic Social democracy is a Social philosophy, social, Economic ideology, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic ...
*
Liberalism and radicalism in France Liberalism and radicalism have played a role in the political history of France. The main line of conflict in France in the long nineteenth century was between monarchists (mainly Legitimists and Orléanists but also Bonapartists) and republi ...
*
Classical radicalism Radicalism (from French ) was a political movement representing the leftward flank of liberalism between the late 18th and early 20th century. Certain aspects of the movement were precursors to a wide variety of modern-day movements, ranging f ...
*
Sinistrisme () is a neologism invented by political scientist Albert Thibaudet in ''Les idées politiques de la France'' (1932) to explain the evolution and recombination of party systems, particularly in France, without substantial changes occurring to ...


Notes


References


External links


Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radical Party Of The Left 1972 establishments in France Centre-left parties in Europe European federalist parties Left-wing parties in France Liberal parties in France Political parties established in 1972 Political parties established in 2019 Political parties of the French Fifth Republic Pro-European political parties in France Progressive parties Radical parties in France Republican parties Social liberal parties