In March 1983 Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy renounced the left's radical Common Programme which had been agreed in the 1970s.

The Rally for the Republic (RPR), led by Jacques Chirac, abandoned the traditional dirigiste and Eurosceptic Gaullist doctrines about the economy and European integration.

In 1985, President Mitterrand's decision to re-establish party-list proportional representation at the legislative election caused political outrage.

The RPR/UDF opposition accused him of wanting to strengthen the FN in order to weaken the Republican Right, which was favourite to win according to the polls.

[4] While opinion polls indicated a win by the RPR/UDF coalition, the former UDF Prime minister Raymond Barre argued that the next parliamentary majority should refuse to govern if President Mitterrand did not resign.

Advised by Edouard Balladur, Jacques Chirac noted, however, that impeachment did not exist in the French Constitution.

The right-wing cabinet would enforce its domestic policy programme and Mitterrand would keep control of foreign and military affairs.