The French elections of 1876 demonstrate a…
1876 CE to 1887 CE
A decisive Republican majority is elected to the Chamber of Deputies while the monarchist majority in the Senate is maintained by only one seat.
President de Mac-Mahon responds in May 1877, attempting to quell the Republicans' rising popularity and limit their political influence through a series of actions that will become known in France as le seize Mai.
On May 16, 1877, de Mac-Mahon forces the resignation of Moderate Republican prime minister Jules Simon and appoints the Orléanist Albert de Broglie to the office.
When the Chamber of Deputies expresses outrage at the appointment, believing the transition of authority to be illegitimate and refusing to cooperate with either de Mac-Mahon or de Broglie, de Mac-Mahon dissolves the Chamber and calls for a new general election to be held the following October.
De Mac-Mahon is subsequently accused by Republicans and republican sympathizers of attempting to stage a constitutional coup d'état, a claim which he publicly denies.
The October elections again bring a Republican majority to the Chamber of Deputies, further affirming public opinion.
The Republicans go on to gain a majority in the Senate by January 1879, establishing dominance in both houses and effectively ending the potential for a monarchist restoration.
De Mac-Mahon himself resigns on January 30, 1879, to be succeeded by the moderate Jules Grévy.
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