Origins The PPUS aimed to represent peasant corporatism and respond to the decline of the
Radical Party, the discrediting of the
Peasant Corporation, and the distrust of the
General Confederation of Agriculture. The party promoted "social union" rather than opposition between urban and rural interests, advocating for the renovation of socio-economic structures based on agriculture. During the
1945 elections, the party allied itself with the political right, opposing ongoing transformations but achieving limited national presence. Following the elections, eleven MPs, including five affiliates, formed the
Peasant Group, aligned with the
Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance. Some members later joined the
Republican Party of Liberty. The PPUS described the election results as a victory of workers and the bourgeoisie over peasants. By 1948–1949, the party began advocating for amnesty regarding actions during the
Occupation and Liberation.
Transformation At its National Council in July 1946, the party rebranded itself as the '''Farmers' Party for Social Union''' (PPUS) to reflect its broader focus on artisans, workers, and the middle class. The party opposed the
Tripartite coalition and called for the abolition of the Ministry of Supply. After the
November 1946 French legislative election, the PPUS won nine seats in the National Assembly and seven in the
Council of the Republic. By March 1947, the group renamed itself the
Republican Centre for Peasant and Social Union and strongly opposed the introduction of
Social Security. Amid the
Cold War, the PPUS adopted a strong
anti-communist stance. The party showed strength in rural areas like
Haute-Loire and
Cantal, securing 16 senators in the 1948
Senate elections. The party drew support from the
FNSEA and rural Catholic regions.
Merger with Independents On 15 February 1951, the PPUS merged into the
National Centre of Independents (CNIP), which subsequently became the
National Centre of Independents and Peasants. In 1957, party leader
Paul Antier was expelled from the CNIP after forming an alliance with
Pierre Poujade's
Union et Fraternité Française. Antier retained control of the PPUS, while members loyal to the CNIP formed the
Peasant and Social Union Movement (MUPS). The PPUS then joined the far-right
Peasant Rally (RP) in September 1957. The party officially adopted the name
Democratic and Peasant Movement (MDP) on 16 September 1965, with Antier remaining as president. Initially a candidate for the
1965 French presidential election, Antier withdrew in favor of
Jean Lecanuet on 17 November. By the
1967 legislative elections, the party dissolved as Antier joined the
Democratic and Republican Centre. == External links ==