The presidential will to "govern towards the centre" and to promote a "modern liberal society" disconcerted the Gaullist party.

This, Chirac's electoral machine, was officially a member of the Presidential Majority but frequently criticized the liberal and pro-European policy of President Giscard d'Estaing and his new prime minister Raymond Barre.

While the right-wing majority was divided and the economic situation deteriorated, the "Union of the Left" won the mid-term local elections.

In his Verdun-sur-le-Doubs speech, President Giscard d'Estaing warned the French voters that he could not prevent the enforcement of the left-wing Common programme if the "Union of the Left" won.

Furthermore, the French electorate appeared evenly shared between four equivalent political parties (RPR, UDF, PS, PCF).