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The National Council was a consultative assembly created on 22 by the Vichy regime under the direction of Pierre-Étienne Flandin. It aimed to replace representative democracy with a structure intended to provide policy advice to the regime. The Council ceased operations in November 1943.
History
Background and creation
The Vichy regime abolished parliamentary democracy, prompting the establishment of the National Council as a new advisory body. Announced on 22, the Council sought to serve as a forum for discussions and recommendations on administrative and constitutional reforms in a context of national reconstruction.
Operations
The Council was a purely advisory body with no legislative powers. It convened commissions on specific topics, such as administrative reorganization, economic reform, and constitutional development. Sessions were held from May 1941 to early 1942 at the Villa Strauss in Vichy.
Composition
Structure
The National Council comprised 213 members appointed directly by the Head of State. These included former parliamentarians, union representatives, professional leaders, and prominent figures from the social, cultural, and economic elites.
Represented groups
- Former parliamentarians: Senators and deputies from the Third French Republic.
- Trade unionists: Representatives of the CGT, French Confederation of Christian Workers, and other unions.
- Economic and cultural elites: Business leaders, academics, scientists, lawyers, and artists.
Legacy
The National Council symbolized the Vichy regime's attempts to legitimize its governance while rejecting democratic institutions. Critics have characterized it as a tool of authoritarian consolidation. It was officially dissolved in November 1943 as part of broader institutional changes.
References
See also
Further reading
- Cointet, Michèle. The National Council of Vichy: Political Life and State Reform under Authoritarian Rule, 1940–1944. Paris: Libris Editions, 1989.
- Cointet-Labrousse, Michèle. Vichy and Fascism: Structures, Powers, and Individuals. Editions Complexe, 1991.