René Coty: The Last President of the Fourth French Republic

René Coty served as the President of France from 1954 to 1959, making him the last president of the Fourth French Republic. Born on March 20, 1882, in Le Havre, Coty was a lawyer by profession and was involved in politics throughout his life. In this blog post, we will discuss the life, career, and legacy of René Coty.

Early Life and Career

René Coty was born into a middle-class family in Le Havre, a port city in the north of France. After completing his education, Coty became a lawyer and established a successful law practice in his hometown. In 1910, he was elected as a municipal councillor in Le Havre and later became the mayor of the city in 1935.

Coty was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1923 as a member of the Radical Party. He held the seat until 1940 when the French parliament was dissolved following the German occupation of France during World War II. During the war, Coty was involved in the French Resistance and was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944. He was imprisoned in various concentration camps until he was liberated by the Allies in April 1945.

Presidential Election of 1953

In 1953, Coty was elected as the President of France in the fourth round of voting by the National Assembly. He defeated the incumbent President Vincent Auriol, who was seeking re-election, in the final round of voting. Coty was known for his conservative political views and was a member of the National Centre of Independents and Peasants party.

Coty’s presidency was marked by political instability and economic struggles. The Fourth French Republic was plagued by corruption and inefficiency, and the public had lost faith in the government. Coty was determined to restore the confidence of the people in the government and worked towards stabilizing the political situation in the country.

Algerian Crisis

The most significant challenge of Coty’s presidency was the Algerian Crisis. Algeria was a French colony at the time, and there was a growing demand for independence among the Algerian people. The conflict escalated during Coty’s presidency, and he was under immense pressure to resolve the crisis.

Coty appointed Pierre Mendès France as the Prime Minister in 1954, who worked towards negotiating a peaceful settlement with the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN). The negotiations, however, failed, and the conflict continued. The crisis was eventually resolved after Coty’s presidency, during the tenure of Charles de Gaulle, who granted independence to Algeria in 1962.

Legacy

René Coty’s presidency was marked by political instability and economic struggles, but he was determined to restore the confidence of the people in the government. He worked towards stabilizing the political situation in the country and played a crucial role in resolving the Algerian Crisis.