Guy Mollet

Alcide guy Mollet has proved himself as one of the most successful statesmen in French History. Following his failed bid for the leadership in 1947, where he lost to Daniel Mayer, many would believe that Mollet would resign himself to the sidelines, occupying important cabinet positions at times but never being able to rise to the top. This would prove to be wrong on every level. With the failure of the Front Populaire under Mayer and the threat of the SFIO becoming a secondary party, Mollet found himself able to challenge Mayer for leadership, ultimately replacing him as the head of the party.

The first few years of this new administration were almost inconsequential, with Mollet focusing more on cleaning up the party of those who would oppose him and less about making opposition to the De Gaulle government. This plan would end up favoring him in the long term, as after the many blunders done by de Gaulle, the Center looked to Mollet as its new partner, and thus, in the '55 elections, although de Gaulle managed to win more votes than Mollet, the coalition between the Social Democrats and the parties of the Center ended up being the one to come out on top, forming a new government. This new Centrist government would dominate French politics, gathering wide public and parliamentary support thanks to its economic and social reforms that made its position almost unassailable. Thanks to this, Mollet would secure his re-election in '59, this time gaining an even larger majority as some Gaullists began siding with him after the death of the Marshal. Securing a stable government that would allow for a prosperous France. Mollet isn't satisfied though, as dissent within the SFIO continues and the support of the Gaullists exists only as a way to further their advances and not out of charity.

But above all Mollet wants to leave the shadow of De Gaulle and prove himself to the French people as a politician on the same level as his predecessor. If he will be able to do this only time will tell...