The nearest things to U.S. state legislatures in France are the Departmental Councils of geographic areas arbitrarily established during the Revolution to break down the section rivalries of old France. Issues in departmental elections are usually local, but this year, with only half the members up for election, the vote took on a national character. The Communists campaigned against "American warmongering," the Gaullists charged that Premier Pleven is trading away France's independence for inadequate U.S. promises. Only candidates with an absolute majority (51%) are elected, and where the vote is split there are run-off elections later, thus providing for...
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