1881 French legislative election

The 1881 general election was held on 21 August and 4 September 1881. This election marked the collapse of the right compared to the 1877 election.

1881 French legislative election

21 August and 4 September 1881
All 557 seats to the Chamber of Deputies 279 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	70.5
First party Second party   Leader Léon Gambetta Georges-Eugène Haussmann Party Republicans Parties Republican Union Republican Left Center-left Bonapartists Leader's seat Seine Corse (lost) Seats won 411 46 Seat change 98 58 Popular vote 5,414,808 610,422 Percentage 75.4% 8.5% Swing 15.4% 11.6%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Louis Blanc Albert de Broglie Party Socialists and Radicals Monarchists Leader's seat Seine Not presented (Senator for Eure) Seats won 46 42 Seat change New 13 Popular vote 603,241 552,971 Percentage 8.4% 7.7% Swing New 2.9%
Prime Minister before election Jules Ferry Republican Left Elected Prime Minister Léon Gambetta Republican Union

It was a great success for the followers of Léon Gambetta, whom President Jules Grévy appointed premier two months after the election. His government only lasted 73 days, however, before falling over the issue of electoral reform.[1] This led to three short-lived minority governments, until Jules Ferry was able to form a second government in February 1883 with the support of Gambetta's Republican Union.

70.55% of eligible voters participated.