Union for the Defense of Tradesmen and Artisans
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Union for the Defense of Tradesmen & Artisans Union de défense des commerçants et artisans (French) | |
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| Abbreviation | UDCA |
| Leader | Pierre Poujade |
| Founded | 29 November 1953 |
| Dissolved | 1962 |
| Membership | Up to 800,000 |
| Ideology | Right-wing populism Poujadism |
| Political position | Right-wing to far-right |
| Colors | Brown |
| National Assembly (1956) | 52 / 595 |
The Union for the Defense of Tradesmen and Artisans (French: Union de défense des commerçants et artisans) was a right-wing populist political party in France from 1953 to 1962, led by Pierre Poujade.
History[edit]
The Union for the Defense of Tradesmen and Artisans was founded in 1953 by Pierre Poujade.[1][2] It published a newspaper, Fraternité française.[3] It also had a hymn, written by André Montagard in 1955.[4] Poujade recruited up to 800,000 members.[5]
In the 1956 legislative election the party took 12.62% of the vote, winning 52 seats in the National Assembly.[1] In the assembly, it changed its name to the Union et fraternité françaises.[1] One of its deputies was a young Jean-Marie Le Pen, elected for the Seine Department's 3rd electoral district. The party sat in opposition to Guy Mollet's government.
The movement initially promoted the repeal of taxes for small business owners.[3] By 1958, it had become strongly opposed to Charles de Gaulle's policy of decolonisation in French Algeria.[3] It was also opposed to the proposed European Defence Community.
After Charles de Gaulle re-entered the political fray in 1958, the movement largely faded from view, failing to hold its position in the 1958 legislative election. Deprived of its parliamentary representation, it dissolved in 1962 because of infighting.[1][3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "U.D.C.A." Larousse. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
- ^ "Union de défense des commerçants et artisans. France". Bibliothèque nationale de France. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Souillac, Romain (2007). De la défense professionnelle au populisme nationaliste (1953-1962). Paris: Presses de Sciences Po. pp. 339–365. ISBN 9782724610062 – via Cairn.info.
- ^ Souillac, Romain (2007). Le mouvement Poujade : De la défense professionnelle au populisme nationaliste (1953-1962). Paris: Presses de Sciences Po. pp. 127–142. ISBN 9782724610062 – via Cairn.info.
- ^ "Union for the Defense of Tradesmen and Artisans". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
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