"Frenchmen and Frenchwomen," declaimed Charles de Gaulle on the 75th anniversary of the Third Republic, "you will soon launch the Fourth Republic!" The General's words opened an electoral campaign whose outcome may well rank in significance with Labor's sweeping victory in Britain.
On Oct. 21, 25,000,000 French voters will elect a National Assembly. Through a referendum they will also answer two key questions: 1) Shall the new Assembly draft a constitution for a Fourth Republic? 2) If so, shall the Provisional Government (presumably De Gaulle's) continue to exercise full power while the constitution is being drafted?
General de Gaulle called for...