France's Fourth Republic, established in 1946, is often cited as an example of political instability. It lasted only twelve years and saw twenty-five governments succeed one another. Despite its challenges, it enabled the country's reconstruction after World War II.
The Fourth Republic was established in the aftermath of World War II in 1946 and abolished by General de Gaulle in 1958. This short twelve-year period is marked by notorious instability: no fewer than twenty-five governments succeeded one another, with notable difficulties in passing a budget, similar to some current impasses.
Four governments in one year and an unprecedented parliamentary deadlock in recent history evoke this era for many commentators. Yet, the institutions and situation were quite different from the contemporary period. Despite the instability, the Fourth Republic achieved significant advancements, such as the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.
This explanatory video, produced by Le Monde's Vertical Videos service, examines the reasons for this instability. It is distributed on platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook to make current events accessible. For more details on the consequences of an unstable regime, an interview with historian Jenny Raflik is recommended.
Pierre Lecornu and Arthur Navet handled the motion design for this production in the series 'Understand in Three Minutes'.