Moderate Republicans (France, 1871–1901)
The Moderates or Moderate Republicans (French: Républicains modérés), pejoratively labeled Opportunist Republicans (Républicains opportunistes), was a French political group active in the late 19th century during the Third French Republic. The leaders of the group included Adolphe Thiers, Jules Ferry, Jules Grévy, Henri Wallon and René Waldeck-Rousseau.
Moderate Republicans Républicains modérés | |
|---|---|
| Leader(s) | Adolphe Thiers Jules Dufaure Jules Grévy Jules Ferry Jean Casimir-Perier Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Dissolved | 1901 |
| Preceded by | Moderate Republicans |
| Succeeded by | Democratic Republican Alliance |
| Ideology | Anti-clericalism Civic nationalism Liberalism Progressivism Radicalism (1870s–1880s) Republicanism |
| Political position | Centre-left[a] |
| Colours | Orange |
^ a: However, Opportunist Republicans was also classified as "Left-wing" or "Centre". | |
Although considered leftist at the time, the Moderate Republicans progressively evolved into a centre-right political party. During their existence, the Moderate Republicans were present in the French Parliament first under the name of Republican Left (Gauche républicaine) and after a fusion with radical republicans as the Democratic Union (Union démocratique).
They were further divided into the National Republican Association (Association nationale républicaine) and the Liberal Republican Union (Union libérale républicaine) in 1888 and 1889, respectively.