French royalists, reactionaries, and proslavery colonists make significant gains in new elections.

Pichegru, his disgraced status notwithstanding, secures his election to the Council of Five Hundred as a leader of the Royalists.

The newly elected French legislature convenes on May 20, with the proslavery colonial point of view energetically represented by Vaublanc.

The trial of Babeuf and the others, begun at Vendôme on February 20, 1797, had lasted two months.

The government for reasons of their own has depicted the socialist Babeuf as the leader of the conspiracy, though more important people than he are implicated; and his own vanity has played admirably into their hands.

On Prairial 7 (May 26, 1797) Babeuf and Darthé are condemned to death; some of the prisoners, including Buonarroti, are deported; the rest, including Vadier and his fellow-conventionals, are acquitted.

Drouet had succeeded in making his escape, according to Paul Barras, with the connivance of the Directory.

Babeuf and Darthé are guillotined the next day at Vendôme, Prairial 8 (May 1797, 27), without appeal.

Bonaparte has become increasingly influential in French politics during the Italian campaign; he has founded two newspapers: one for the troops in his army and another for circulation in France.

The royalists attack Bonaparte for looting Italy and warn he might become a dictator.

Miranda has meanwhile reappeared after being given permission to remain in France, though that does not stop his involvement in yet another monarchist plot.

Bonaparte sends General Pierre Augereau to Paris to lead a coup d'état and purge the royalists and colonial elements on September 4—Coup of 18 Fructidor; the Vaublanc faction loses its influence.

The police are ordered to arrest the "Peruvian general", as the said general submerges himself yet again in the underground.

The Directory labels many deputies as royalists and transports them to the colony of French Guiana, “the dry guillotine”.

Among the deportees is Pichegru.

This leaves Barras and his Republican allies in control again but dependent on Bonaparte, who proceeds to peace negotiations with Austria.